"Best result of the season" - Paul Merson reveals his prediction for the Manchester United vs Liverpool clash

One-time FA Cup winner and Arsenal legend Paul Merson believes Manchester United don't have even "1% of a chance" of winning against Liverpool. The Red Devils travel to Anfield to meet their arch rivals in the Premier League tonight (April 19).

Manchester United have endured a terrible campaign so far that saw them exit both domestic cups and the UEFA Champions League prematurely. Their only hopes of salvaging the season lie in securing a top-four finish in the league.

Ralf Rangnick's side are currently three points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur with six matches to go. An unlikely win at Merseyside could bring them level on points with Spurs.

However, Merson believes a Red Devils win in this fixture is almost impossible. He added that if they manage a draw, it will be their best result of the season.

Speaking on the Sky Sports Soccer Special panel, Merson said (as quoted by We All Follow United):

“Manchester United go to play Liverpool tomorrow, and I don’t give them one bit of a chance. I don’t give them 1% of a chance.”

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He went on to add:

“As a team, they went 42 games without losing away from home and they are going to Liverpool tomorrow and if they drew 0-0, it would be the best result of the season.”

Liverpool enter this match on an eight-match unbeaten run across all competitions. That extends to 12 matches when only Premier League contests are taken into account.

Manchester United, on the other hand, have won just two of their last eight matches in all competitions.

Form and recent history favor Liverpool in rivalry with Manchester United

Manchester United hold the lead in the head-to-head against Liverpool in what is one of the most storied rivalries in English football. The Red Devils have won 81 times (all competitions) against the Reds, who have won 69 matches. 58 games have ended in draws.

However, recent history favors Jurgen Klopp's side, who haven't lost in the league at home against United since 2016. In the five matches since that defeat, they have won twice and drawn thrice.

The Reds are unbeaten in their last four matches at Old Trafford as well, picking up two wins and two draws.

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Liverpool also won the most recent meeting between the two sides. They clashed in the Premier League in Manchester back in October last year, with Klopp's troops running riot to win 5-0.

Mohamed Salah netted a fantastic hat-trick, while Diogo Jota and Naby Keita also got on the scoresheet.

About the author

Anantaajith has been covering European football news at Sportskeeda for almost three years. He previously spent five months at Total Football Analysis, where he deep dived into the likes of the A-League, Chilean and Argentine Primera Divisions, the Turkish league and the Maltese league. A graduate in English and Journalism, and currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Sport Analytics and Technologies from Loughborough University London, Anantaajith is adept at analyzing complex statistics and translating it into concise and reader-friendly content.

He started following football in 2010, watching the FIFA World Cup with his father, a memory he holds very special. The tournament also ignited his admiration for Lionel Messi, who he feels makes the game look simple and produces magic every time on the pitch. Luis Enrique and Sebastien Hoeness are his favorite managers. He supports Barcelona and their 3-2 El Clasico win in the 2016-17 season left a lasting impact on him. The 2022 FIFA World Cup final between France and Argentina is another match etched in his memory.

Anantaajith has interviewed many ISL footballers like Anirudh Thapa, Vincy Barretto, Samik Mitra, Jordan Murray, and covered the entirety of the 2022-23 ISL season and the 2023 SAFF Championship. He was cited on the ISL website several times for his efforts.

In his free time, he likes to sing, work out, play football, or play cricket at club/divisional level.

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Edited by Rachel Syiemlieh