Good afternoon, welcome to our live blog of Liverpool vs Manchester United, one of British sport’s most enduring and storied rivalries. It should be a fun afternoon. No doubt there will be plenty of drama and controversy with feelings running high in both camps. With Man City stumbling this weekend, Liverpool have a chance to open up a slender but psychologically handy gap at the top. The hosts are top of the League with 37 points from 16 games, Arsenal second on 36 also on 16 games. United, also 16 games in, are on 27 points back in 7th.

For United, this afternoon represents a return to the scene of the crime: last time MUFC played here they were pumped 7-0, one of the darkest footballing days in the club’s history, albeit that there seem to be more bad days than good of late. Stop sniggering at the back. 

Cody Gakpo, one of the heroes that day, said this week: “It was a great game that one. We knew we had to win and after a good first half from both teams the second half we really dominated and scored a lot of goals,” the Dutchman said. I scored just before half-time and I think just two minutes after half-time Darwin (Nunez) scored the second one and two minutes after I scored the third. It was good for us to score that quick after half-time and kill the game. It was amazing.

“At one point you are not really looking at the score, you just want to dominate and show your best and I think everyone had a really great game that day. Hopefully we can repeat it.”

Liverpool have the chance to establish a club-record 35th successive game with a goal on Sunday, bettering the record set by Jurgen Klopp’s side between April and December 2021.

“We know we score every game so hopefully we can keep that and score some goals,” said Gakpo.

“We are looking forward to the game but we are not thinking ‘We have to score seven again’. We just go into the game focused and really wanting to win.

“We know we are top of the table, we know what we want and we just have to keep working hard, keep staying together, focusing on every game and win every game.”

For United and beleaguered manager Erik ten Hag, today represents an opportunity to get the fans back on side. I’m not going so far as to say that he needs a win to keep his job but I wouldn’t think that he can survive many more 7-0s… We will see which 11 brave men and true he sends over the white line in pursuit of that goal at 15.30 and the kick off is then at 4.30pm UK time. Stick with us for the build up.