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Despite the gulf in fortunes between England’s two greatest sides in recent years, fixtures against Liverpool have provided Manchester United with a surprising level of satisfaction.
Indeed, the under-fire Ruben Amorim was asked on Friday where January’s 2-2 draw at Anfield ranks among United’s best displays during his tenure. His predecessor also enjoyed an unusual number of triumphs against Liverpool, losing just two of six meetings.
Erik ten Hag’s first United win even came against Liverpool; he recorded that memorable FA Cup victory in March 2024 and put a significant dent in Jurgen Klopp’s swansong title hopes a few weeks later.
While United is approaching nearly a decade without a win at Anfield, there’s a general consensus among Liverpool supporters that the Red Devils manage to muster something typically beyond their means when the great rivals lock horns. In many ways, the ability to summon such an impassioned response makes their usual fragilities even more galling.
They have also come to the fore against Liverpool, of course. A 9-0 aggregate scoreline in 2021/22 serves as a particularly sweet memory, while the seven-goal victory in 2023 still beggars belief to this day.
It’s impossible to say which version of United will travel to Anfield on Sunday. Yet, remarkably, it’s Liverpool who will arrive in the more fragile form. Three consecutive defeats would leave most coaches under pressure, but Slot cut a relatively relaxed figure in Friday’s press conference.
He did not shy away from Liverpool’s issues, flagging set-pieces, defending crosses, individual performances, the odd refereeing decision, and the “small margins” as the cause of the team’s recent slump.
He’s also concerned with the number of goals being conceded. “We've conceded nine, where four of them are from set-pieces,” Slot nonchalantly reeled off. “The other five were two fast breaks and three from open play.”
The former Feyenoord boss has clearly spent the last two weeks reviewing the last few weeks, searching for the solution to Liverpool’s predicament. Yet for all the soul searching, there was a measured and calm aura to Slot on Friday. There is clearly no need for panic yet.
Securing goals from his leading lights would be an obvious first step back to supremacy for the champions. Mohamed Salah’s contributions were a talking point on Friday, while Florian Wirtz’s form was a recurring theme throughout the international break.
Perhaps the return to full fitness of Alexander Isak may inspire a revival of the Reds’ attacking fortunes. Finally up to speed, in many senses, Liverpool’s squad-building exercise has been leading to this since May.
United could prove the perfect opponent to test Slot’s new-fangled attack, given it has conceded three in each of its last two away games and has failed to win a league match on the road since March.
After all, Salah tends to reserve something special for United, and Cody Gakpo has also enjoyed his duels with the club he nearly signed for. He even scored in that famous 7-0, on an afternoon when four different attackers netted at Anfield. What Slot would give for such free-flowing offensive patterns.
Finding the balance between Klopp's chaos in the final third and greater midfield control has defined Slot’s time at Liverpool. Since the ample summer signings, both have been lacking this term.
Whether it’s against United or in the weeks to come, Liverpool must rediscover that equilibrium before it loses ground in the title race.
On Sunday, at least, there should be few surprises in Amorim’s approach. The Portuguese will likely play a more direct brand of his lame 3-4-2-1 shape, but the system, personnel, and even the timing of substitutes are mundanely predictable.
That contrasts with Slot, who prefers adaptable multi-functional players. Trying to second-guess who starts at right-back or left wing, for instance, is futile.
Exploiting the lack of United midfield bodies could prove crucial for Liverpool, although United’s ability to commit attacking players in the wide areas could be problematic, especially given Marc Cucurella’s revelatory comments that Chelsea targeted Liverpool’s right flank last time out.
Slot shrugged off that line of questioning on Friday. Ironically, it’s his opposite number who is in greater need of three points despite the growing spotlight on the Dutchman. Amorim began his pre-match press conference with questions about his long-term future, and essentially admitted he took Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s backing with a pinch of salt.
The United head coach doesn’t know if he’ll be in the dugout when the sides next meet in May. Slot does not share that concern.
He will hope that when Liverpool heads to Old Trafford in the final month of the campaign, a historic 21st title will be within the team’s grasp.
Inevitably, it will come at some point. While United may have enjoyed some recent meetings with its old foes, only one club struts with the swagger of a modern-day superpower these days.
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