Football fans are naturally superstitious but funny things can happen when your team is on a long unbeaten run. Arsenal supporters will remember the “this is the day we are going to lose” mentality in the latter stages of the record 49-game streak in 2003-04. It could be a tricky looking away game, or perhaps an early kick-off, but usually it would just be against a bitter rival who you knew would enjoy ending your run more than anybody else. So it is entirely natural that Liverpool – unbeaten this season, unbeaten in 38 league matches and unbeaten in the league at Anfield since April 2017 – seem to be entertaining the fact they will lose to Manchester United on Sunday. True, United are the only team to take a point off Jürgen Klopp’s side this season courtesy of October’s 1-1 draw at Old Trafford but their inconsistent away form has seen them lose at Watford and Arsenal of late and there is little to suggest they can silence Anfield. Apart from the fact that this is football, of course. Paul Chronnell
Sunday 4.30pm Sky Sports Premier League
Venue Anfield
Last season Liverpool 3 Manchester United 1
Referee Craig Pawson
This season G11 Y46 R1 4.36 cards/game
Odds H 1-3 A 7-1 D 4-1
LIVERPOOL
Subs from Adrián, Lonergan, Kelleher, Origi, Shaqiri, Lallana, Jones, Hoever, Minamino, Hardy
Doubtful Fabinho (ankle), Matip (hamstring)
Injured Lovren (hamstring, 25 Jan), Clyne (knee), Keïta (groin), Milner (hamstring, all unknown)
Suspended None
Discipline Y22 R1
Form WWWWWW
Leading scorer Mané 11
MANCHESTER UNITED
Subs from Romero, Grant, Chong, Garner, Gomes, Greenwood, Jones, Tuanzebe, Pereira, Dalot, Mata, Shaw, Bailly, Rojo, Fosu-Mensah
Doubtful Bailly, Fosu-Mensah, Rojo (all match fitness), Shaw (thigh)
Injured Tuanzebe (hamstring, 25 Jan), McTominay (knee), Pogba (ankle, both Feb)
Suspended None
Discipline Y41 R0
Form DLWWLW
Leading scorer Rashford 14
