Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Endo, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Salah, Nunez, Diaz.

Manchester United XI: Onana; Dalot, Evans, Varane, Shaw; Mainoo, Amrabat; Antony, McTominay, Garnacho; Hojlund.

United have several injuries and suspensions to deal with today, with Maguire and Fernandes the latest to be unavailable for this clash. However, Ten Hag still maintained a positive attitude in his pre-match press conference and believes his side can defy the odds.

“They are playing good, no doubt,” Ten Hag said of Liverpool, who began the weekend top of the Premier League – 10 points ahead of their sixth-placed visitors.

“But we have had some tough games in the last period, as Bayern is also a very tough team. We have seen that we can go head-to-head with them and that is our challenge for Sunday as well.”

“We are preparing the team in the best way we can. We are confident we can put out a team who can win there.”

Liverpool have unexpectedly made nine changes from their youth-filled side that was beaten in Belgium on Thursday.

Only Waturu Endo and Ibrahima Konate have kept their place, while Jurgen Klopp has kept faith with Darwin Nunez as he starts in the front three.

On the other hand, Erik ten Hag makes two changes, but Marcus Rashford remains on the bench.

Harry Maguire, who was injured during the Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich was replaced by Jonny Evans, and 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo has been selected in place of Bruno Fernandes, who is suspended.

We’ve got just under five minutes until today’s team news comes out. A few injuries – especially in the United camp – to deal with but we’re no expecting any huge surprises. A reminder of how we think both teams will line up:

Liverpool predicted XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Jones, Endo, Szoboszlai; Salah, Nunez, Diaz.

Manchester United predicted XI: Onana; Dalot, Evans, Varane, Shaw; Mainoo, Amrabat; Rashford, McTominay, Garnacho; Hojlund.

But Ten Hag brushed aside talk of the sack. “I am not concerned about that,” he said.

He has enjoyed the backing of the current regime, including football director John Murtough, and said: “I feel that and they tell it but actually that is fine and that is OK but I am focusing on the process, to make this team play better, make the individuals better and that is my concern.”

Alisson Becker was spotting the similarities when others might have cited the differences between arguably the best goalkeeper in the Premier League and perhaps the most criticised. “I went through something similar to what he is living,” he reflected.”

Coming from an Italian club to England, to a big club, for a lot of money.” His own £65m fee, then a world record for a goalkeeper, is rarely mentioned these days, a product of his own excellence; he made swapping Serie A for England look easy, winning the Champions League in his first season and the Premier League in his second.

Read Richard Jolly’s interview with Liverpool keeper Alisson ahead of today’s match:

There is now a feeling that that result might have had more of an effect than people realised at the time. It was almost worse that it came so soon after the supposed launchpad moment of that Carabao Cup victory against Newcastle. The extent of the humiliation eroded a lot of the confidence and conviction that had been built during the cup run.

That, of course, doesn’t mean the players lost faith in Ten Hag or anything of the sort, but the sense of progress had been severely stunted. It is conspicuous that United have barely had a convincing performance since, although there are obvious many other reasons for that. The United squad was stretched even in the build-up to that final. It all caved in against exactly the wrong opposition.

Erik ten Hag has not subjected Manchester United’s squad to a video nasty. Or not this particular one, anyway. Ten Hag can show his players clips from previous games; he used footage from their win over Chelsea to prepare for Bayern Munich.

Both the past and the future have a pertinence, however, as Ten Hag returns to the scene of United’s heaviest ever defeat to Liverpool. Nine months ago, he had a team in ripe form, one that had won a trophy a week earlier.

He had a fit Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez, but both will miss the rematch. He had Bruno Fernandes available, but now his captain is suspended. He had Marcus Rashford in such form that the forward went to Merseyside with 17 goals in his previous 20 games; now he has not scored in open play for more than three months. Then he faced a Liverpool team eight points behind United.

And still his side lost 7-0.

We’ve still got about 45 minutes until we have the confirmed starting XI’s for today’s game but here is how we think both sides might line up:

Liverpool predicted XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Jones, Endo, Szoboszlai; Salah, Nunez, Diaz.

Manchester United predicted XI: Onana; Dalot, Evans, Varane, Shaw; Mainoo, Amrabat; Rashford, McTominay, Garnacho; Hojlund.

A long Liverpool injury list includes Alexis Mac Allister, Joel Matip, Thiago Alcantara, Diogo Jota and Andy Robertson, but the rest of Jurgen Klopp’s first XI should be recalled after being spared the Thursday night trip to Belgium. Joe Gomez impressed at right back against Crystal Palace and could start, allowing Trent Alexander-Arnold to move into midfield.

Manchester United will be without Bruno Fernandes, with their captain suspended after picking up a fifth booking of the Premier League season against Bournemouth. Marcus Rashford could return from illness but Anthony Martial is set to again be absent, and Harry Maguire’s midweek groin injury may well rule him out. Luke Shaw could yet feature, though.