There’s a sort of electric awkwardness hanging over Anfield this weekend. You can feel it — a mix of expectation and a little nervousness. Arne Slot hasn’t been the quiet prodigy everyone expected nor a dud; he’s somewhere in between, doing well enough and, crucially, with a record within reach. Beat Manchester United on Sunday and he’ll claim 100 Premier League points in just 46 games as Liverpool manager. That would nudge him past Kenny Dalglish’s mark of 48 matches and, well, that’s the sort of stat that gets you remembered. Or at least mentioned in a few extra headlines.
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Why this match matters more than it looks
If you strip it down — no pomp, no nostalgia — this is simply a very good chance. United are wobbling. They’ve been unhappy visitors to Anfield for a long time. And Liverpool, even if a little messy lately, still have the edge at home. Slot got to 100 points two games later than he might have because of losses to Crystal Palace and Chelsea; those results annoyed fans and probably him, too. You sense a manager who wants to steady things, to stop the small leaks before they become big holes. A win against United feels like the right way to do that. It’s not the only way, of course. But it’s a tidy, public way to show progress.
Anfield’s history with United is heavy. This will be the 100th meeting between the clubs there in all competitions. Liverpool have 48 wins to United’s 26 at the ground. Those numbers don’t lie: this is a place where the home side has usually held sway. If Slot’s team avoids defeat on Sunday, Liverpool will set a new club record — ten consecutive home league games unbeaten against United, outdoing a streak from the 1970s. That’s impressive. It also carries a little pressure — every record becomes the thing everyone watches until somebody breaks it.
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Recent meetings have been one-sided. In the last seven league games at Anfield, Liverpool have scored 18 and conceded three. That’s a dominant run, and it’s hard not to read it as a trend rather than a fluke. Last season’s 7-0, though maybe a touch painful for neutrals who hate blowouts, still lingers in people’s minds. You won’t see a repeat of that exact score — not likely — but the memory makes United’s job that much tougher. The psychological part matters; sometimes certain games feel like traps and sometimes they feel like opportunities. For Liverpool, this one feels like both.
What’s wrong with United — and is it fixable?
Ruben Amorim’s time at Old Trafford hasn’t been smooth. They’ve won just one of their last 14 Premier League matches against Liverpool, and only two of the last 18 — small sample, massive implication. Their recent form away from home hasn’t helped: losses at Manchester City and Brentford, a draw at Fulham. A win over Sunderland offered a brief bit of relief, yes, but not a reversal. Also, a penalty shootout exit at Grimsby in the Carabao Cup? That’s the sort of result that doesn’t mend confidence.
There’s a grim stat: Martinez’s goal back in January was their first league goal at Anfield in 559 minutes. That’s staggering. It underlines not just tactical issues, but finishing problems, or perhaps a failure to create high-quality chances in this fixture. Amorim has taken 37 points from 34 league matches since he took charge — not exactly the stuff that keeps the doubters quiet. If United were to win on Sunday, it would be their first back-to-back league wins under him. That’s a small-but-important milestone. And yet, doing that at Anfield? Given United have conceded four or more goals in four of their last nine league meetings with Liverpool, it feels like a stretch. Maybe it can happen — football is silly like that — but the odds aren’t great.
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Tactics, pressure, and the little things
Slot’s got choices to make. Does he push for a fast start and try to unsettle United early, or does he sit a little deeper and invite them on, hoping to hit on the break? He’s shown tactical flexibility before; but lately you can see him juggling ideas on the touchline as if he’s trying to solve a puzzle on the fly. That’s relatable. I’m cautiously optimistic — not because everything’s perfect, but because there’s enough quality in Liverpool’s squad to do damage if Slot picks the right moments.
For United, the task is balancing defense and attack with confidence. They need to create chances without handing Liverpool easy transitions. Easier said than done. I’ve watched games where teams tighten up and choke the life out of a stronger opponent; and I’ve seen the reverse, where the stronger side pulls away. It depends on small moments: an early goal, a soft concession, a referee decision. Football is full of mini-tilts that tilt the whole day.
Form, momentum, and the human element
Form is a messy thing. Liverpool’s losses to Palace and Chelsea showed they can be vulnerable; United’s recent inconsistency shows they can be vulnerable too. Momentum swings fast in this league. One good result and confidence blooms; one bad sequence and things look worse than they actually are. I find that believable, frankly. Managers react, players tighten up, fans get loud. Slot will want his team to be composed, to play with some urgency but not panic. That blend is delicate.
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Prediction — and a small personal note
I’ll put it like this: I think Liverpool will edge it, 2-1. Not a blowout. Not a squeaky clean performance. Just enough — a solid home showing, a goal early to ease nerves, and then Liverpool holding on despite a United push. It feels right for the moment: Slot nudges a record, United keep fighting, and Anfield breathes a little easier.
You can disagree. Maybe United snatch something, maybe Liverpool stumble again. That’s football, unpredictable and often slightly unfair. But this match has the feel of an opportunity Slot won’t want to miss. It’s a good stage, and sometimes that’s all you need to nudge the story in your favour.
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