Man Utd vs Liverpool predictions: Hosts to start strongly at Old Trafford

- Man Utd have scored the first goal in 10 of their last 11 matches
- Liverpool have scored 43 of their 65 Premier League goals in second half
- Recommended bet: Man Utd to win 1st Half

Liverpool are on a mission to give manager Jurgen Klopp the perfect send-off and they continue their pursuit of a clean sweep of trophies in Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final at Manchester United.

Virgil van Dijk's extra-time goal sealed a dramatic victory over Chelsea in last month's EFL Cup final and the Reds, flying high in the Premier League, are also hot favourites to win the Europa League.

United, in contrast, have all their eggs in the FA Cup basket and Erik ten Hag's men will be eager to derail their rivals' quadruple quest in front of their own fans on Sunday.

Team news

Manchester United hope that striker Rasmus Hojlund will be fit to return after missing the club's last four matches.

Defenders Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka have also recovered from injuries and should also be back in the squad.

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah made his first club start since New Year's Day in Thursday's win over Sparta Prague and is set to start on the right of a front three.

Centre-back Ibrahima Konate is a doubt and the Reds remain without the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Diogo Jota, Alisson, Joel Matip, Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago Alcantara.

The stats

Manchester United have scored the first goal in 10 of their last 11 matches in all competitions.

Three of United's last five home defeats were by a 3-0 scoreline and the Red Devils have lost eight of their last 17 home matches in all competitions.

Liverpool have scored 43 of their 65 Premier League goals in the second half of matches.

The Reds have won and both teams have scored in seven of their last 12 matches.

Liverpool have scored 21 goals in their last six meetings with Manchester United.

Prediction

Liverpool were 4-0 up inside 14 minutes of Thursday's Europa League last-16 second leg against Sparta Prague at Anfield, but that was out of character for a team who do most of their damage in the second half of matches.

Two-thirds of Liverpool's Premier League goals have been scored after half-time, as have seven of their 10 strikes in this season's FA Cup wins over Arsenal, Norwich and Southampton.

United tend to start games strongly before fading, so the hosts look a decent bet to be leading at half-time on Sunday.

They have benefited from a week off since beating Everton 2-0 at Old Trafford last Saturday so are capable of starting strongly against a Liverpool side still depleted by injuries.

Klopp's Reds have shown remarkable resilience this season, staging some stunning second-half comebacks, so they may be popular with in-play punters if they do fall behind.

Marcus Rashford gave United an eighth-minute lead at Manchester City earlier this month before the champions scored three times in the second half and Sunday's cup tie could follow a similar pattern.

Back Man Utd to win 1st Half, available at 3/1 with LiveScore Bet

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