Paul Scholes has spoken early about his expectations for Liverpool’s upcoming clash with Manchester United at Anfield, and Reds fans will be hoping his prediction doesn’t come true.
Despite the Premier League champions entering the match on 19 October after three consecutive defeats and showing some worrying vulnerabilities, Manchester United remain unpredictable. The Red Devils have just about nudged into the top half of the table after defeating Sunderland last weekend.
Ruben Amorim’s side have relied heavily on results at Old Trafford to avoid sliding further down the table. On the road this season, they’ve managed just a single point, and it has been nearly a decade since they last won at Anfield.
Scholes Expresses Concern for United
Speaking on the latest episode of The Overlap Fan Debate, Scholes admitted his apprehension over the fixture, suggesting that even a draw would be a satisfactory outcome for United.
He said:
“Ruben Amorim needs to try and get something from Liverpool at Anfield. I’d be thinking just about holding on for a draw and finding a way to stop them from scoring. That’s very different from a team like Arsenal going there chasing the league, but United are in such a rut. I can’t recall the last time they won an important game—maybe against City last year. This group of players is in such a bad spell that there’s no confidence they’ll turn it around. It almost seems predictable that they’ll go there and lose.”
A Fixture That Defies Form
With Liverpool boasting a perfect home record this season and United earning just one point from nine on the road, the statistics favor the Reds even during this rough patch.
However, recent visits by United to Anfield have often defied expectations. The Red Devils drew on their last two trips despite finishing well behind Liverpool in both campaigns. Yet in the season Liverpool thrashed United 7-0 under Jurgen Klopp, United still finished two places above the Reds.
Scholes’ admission that a draw would be satisfactory underlines the current balance of power in the northwest, a point Liverpool will be eager to prove in this classic rivalry later this month.
If Liverpool can perform at their best—a level they’ve yet to sustain for a full 90 minutes this season—they are likely too strong for United, even with Amorim’s team showing some promise against Sunderland.
Three consecutive losses have dampened spirits on Merseyside heading into the international break, but a win over their long-time rivals along the M62 would instantly lift the mood among Kopites.
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