The highlight fixture of the first Premier League weekend of 2025 is the renewal of a bitter English rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester United.
Both teams couldn't arrive in a more drastically different manner to the fixture. Liverpool are top of the league and have been steamrolling the opposition since the arrival of Arne Slot. Meanwhile, Manchester United are struggling, languishing in 14th place and unable to kick into gear under Ruben Amorim.
Slot's Reds have a commanding six point lead over Arsenal atop the standings that could become nine if they win their game in hand. Liverpool have looked like the best team in Europe this season and are now in pole position both in the Premier League and UEFA Champions League going into the second half of the season.
Liverpool will be without Joe Gomez due to injury and Ibrahima Konaté only just returned to training so is unlikely to feature from the start, giving Slot reduced alternatives in the center of defense. Other than that, the Reds have a mostly healthy squad as they look to make it eight years unbeaten at Anfield against United in the league.
Here's how Liverpool could lineup vs. Manchester United on Sunday, Jan. 5.






