Harry Redknapp and Wayne Rooney make Liverpool v Man Utd predictions

Harry Redknapp and Wayne Rooney agree that Manchester United could be in for a tough afternoon when they take to the field away to bitter rivals Liverpool.

Liverpool enter the eagerly anticipated contest in third place, boasting a five-point advantage over the Red Devils, who are languishing down in 11th.

But the reigning Premier League champions have encountered their first major blip since Arne Slot took over the reins from Jurgen Klopp, with the Reds suffering three straight defeats in all competitions before the international break.

United, by contrast, cruised to a comfortable 2-0 win over Sunderland in their previous clash and may well have headed to Merseyside with a spring in their step, sensing a potential upset against their age-old rivals.

Manchester City leapfrogged Liverpool with victory over Everton on Saturday, but Slot’s men know they can reclaim second place with maximum points at Anfield.

Arsenal ensured they will finish the weekend top of the table regardless of the result following their defeat of Fulham at Craven Cottage, in which Leandro Trossard was the only goalscorer.

Previewing Sunday’s action for BetVictor, Redknapp predicted a 3-1 win for Liverpool, with the match representing an opportunity for the hosts to flex their muscles and ‘show just why they were champions’.

‘The big game of the week, and all of a sudden, a fascinating clash,’ the former Tottenham manager said.

‘Liverpool have lost three in a row, but they’ve all been away from home, which can happen. I do think we’ll see an improvement from them here; the fans will make a difference.

‘As for United, they beat Sunderland last time, but they gave up plenty of chances and it wasn’t the most convincing display.

‘They actually played very well here last season and might have even won that game, so I wouldn’t write them off.

‘It might be wrong, but I think this is the sort of game where we’ll see Liverpool show just why they were champions.’

Redknapp picked out Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz as his ‘ones to watch’, claiming the criticism directed at Liverpool’s two summer signings had been ‘overblown’.

‘One to watch — I’m cheating and picking two players here, Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz. So much has been written about these two big-money signings,’ he added.

‘Some of it has been fair; some of it’s been a bit overblown. This would be the perfect game to show their quality.’

Ex-Manchester United captain Rooney, meanwhile, believes his former club would be delighted to come away from Anfield with a point.

However, Rooney feels the pressure is ‘definitely’ on Liverpool to respond after three successive losses.

‘Just with Liverpool losing three games, I think that pride kicks in and the fans will know, the fans are not stupid, they know and will get behind the team and push them,’ he said on The Wayne Rooney Show.

‘So for United, I think going there, if United come away with a point, I think that would be huge.

‘I think the pressure for this game, I think purely because I don’t think United fans will be expecting three points in this game, where in other games they are.

‘I think they’ll go in a say, if we can get a point we’ll be happy with that, where I think for Liverpool, if Liverpool lose four games in a row and they lose to Manchester United at Anfield, I think the pressure is definitely on Liverpool for this game.’

Rooney, United’s all-time top goalscorer, went on: ‘I think when you bring so many new players in, they’ve all probably got a bit of an ego in their own way, all wanting to do well and find that chemistry with each other.

‘I think that hasn’t quite hit off yet, even though they won the first five games, I think the last three games has shown everyone and exposed those first five games.

‘I think it’s a good reset time for Liverpool with where they are at the minute.’

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