They may have dropped points at Old Trafford in October but Liverpool could strike back with their most emphatic performance of the season tomorrow.
While Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Manchester United were focusing on facing Wolverhampton Wanderers in their FA Cup third-round replay, Jurgen Klopp has been working towards this encounter. I wrote in this newspaper after the reverse fixture which ended 1-1 that Liverpool did not turn up with the swagger of champions-in-waiting. It was their worst Premier League performance of the season, the only time they have failed to win.
Solskjaer changed the system that day and it seemed to affect Klopp and his players.
United used a back three and sat deep with the midfield and forwards close together, and Liverpool struggled to find a way through.
Asked about going to Anfield, Solskjaer sounded confident after their 1-0 FA Cup win over Wolves on Wednesday when he said: ‘We’ve found a nice way of playing against them.’
But Klopp will know exactly what to do this time round.
He has had eight days to prepare his players for this and will have a plan to beat United and their low block.
Solskjaer may be without top scorer Marcus Rashford, depending on how he reacts to the back injury he suffered against Wolves.
In an all-time table for points picked up in the Premier League and First Division, Liverpool are top on 6,900 and United are fourth on 6,392. These two clubs have been at the top of English football for so long and there is a fierce rivalry.
But tomorrow, we could see Liverpool win — and win big.