England English Football 2025/26 - Premier League, Championship & lower leagues discussion

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Everton vs Liverpool Preview (Sunday, 19.04.2026) Premier League:

Possible starting lineups:

Everton:
Pickford; O'Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Garner, Gueye; McNeil, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye; Beto

Liverpool:
Mamardashvili; Szoboszlai, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Wirtz, Ngumoha; Isak

Everton and Liverpool will contest the first-ever Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium, the new Everton home. As usual, here are some interesting historical information. For those who don't know, Merseyside is the name of the river that divide the city. The match had been referred to as the "Merseyside derby" in at least one national newspaper in 1955. Traditionally, the Merseyside derby was referred to as the "Friendly Derby" because of the large number of families who have both Reds (Liverpool) and Blues (Everton) supporters in them. Nevertheless, the so called "Friendly Derby" has seen more Red cards than any other in the Premier League history. Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and former Everton captain Phil Neville both saw red twice in derby games. Liverpool won the reverse fixture at Anfield in September with 2:1.

Everton have a solid season. Many pundits predicted them to be involved into the relegation battle, though David Moyes composed a good team able to upset even the Big guns. For example, the Toffees demolished 3:0 Chelsea two rounds ago. Everton sit on the 8th position with 47 points, five less than fifth-placed Liverpool. A victory here would see Everton just two points away from the Champions League spot. The atmosphere in the squad is excellent, while the players confidence is high. The current form is good, Everton have three victories on the last five matches. Moyes has almost all players available, only Jack Grealish is sidelined with a foot injury. This is very unusual at this stage of the season and I think the physio should be awarded . Of course, this mean lot of "sweet issues" for Moyes.

Liverpool are in crisis, the biggest one in this millennium. The last period was like a culmination. The Reds were eliminated from the Champions League after losing both home and away to PSG. Liverpool suffered a 4:0 aggregate defeat and should be happy with the final result, as It could easily be 8:0. To be worse, the best scorer Hugo Ekitike suffered an Achilles rupture that could sideline the Frenchman for at least 10 months. The Reds were also eliminated from the FA Cup. It was another poor performance and another high defeat - 4:0 for Manchester City. Manager Arne Slot is under huge pressure, many pundits predicted he will be replaced by Xabi Alonso. Five players are struggling with injuries. Alisson Becker, Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley and Wataru Endo are definitely sidelined, while Joe Gomez is rated as doubtful.

Everton vs Liverpool Prediction:

The derby matches are usually difficult to be predicted, though I don't see away win. Everton have the home advantage and this fact should not be underestimated. Everton fans will come in large number to Hill Dickinson Stadium and they will strongly support their players. Liverpool are in deep crisis, the players confidence is zero. The Reds have won just one of their last five outings across all competitions, losing the other four. To be worse, the best scorer Hugo Ekitike suffered an Achilles rupture and will be out for a longer period. Worst of all, key players - Salah and Van Dijk - are out of form. Everton should take advantage from Liverpool issues.

Everton vs Liverpool Pick: Everton +0.5 AH @ 1.67 with William Hill

 

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Brighton vs Chelsea Preview (Tuesday, 21.04.2026) Premier League:

Possible starting lineups:

Brighton:
Verbruggen; Wieffer, Dunk, Van Hecke, Kadioglu; Gross, Ayari; Minteh, Rutter, De Cuyper; Welbeck

Chelsea:
Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Palmer, Pedro, Neto; Delap

Brighton will welcome Chelsea to Amex on Tuesday night. The reason why this match is scheduled so early is the Blues FA Cup involvement during the upcoming weekend. As You probably know, they will face Leeds United on Sunday, in the cup semi-final at Wembley. But Rosenior asked the players to forget cup and to be fully focused on this match. The Seagulls are 9th with 47 points, while Chelsea have one more on the sixth position. Their ultimate target is a Champions League spot, but fifth-placed Liverpool are in pol-position with 55 points. However, Brighton are in solid form at the moment. They are unbeaten on the last four matches in the Premier League, winning three of them. The Seagulls managed to beat Burnley, Liverpool and Sunderland, while drew against Tottenham at New White Hart Lane. Dropping two points wasn't the worst scenario as Diego Gomez suffered a first-half knee injury. That's not all as Gomez's replacement Mitoma was also forced to leave the pitch in the latter stages of the game. Hurzeler is still waiting the latest news from the medical department. Three more players remain sidelined - James Milner, Adam Webster and Stefanos Tzimas.

Cherlsea are in poor form at the moment, they have six defeats in the last seven matches across all competitions. The only success came against lower division side Port Vale in the FA Cup. The atmosphere in the squad is poor, while the players confidence is low. Most of the defeats were without scoring, while the only match they scored was a 5:2 defeat to PSG. In the other five games Chelsea lost to Manchester United (0:1), Manchester City (0:3), Newcastle (0:1), Everton (0:3) and PSG (0:3) in the reverse fixture. It seems the club officials made a big mistake when replaced Enzo Maresca with Liam Rosenior. The French coach has no previous experience in England, which is a big handicap. Working at Strasbourg is nowhere near the Chelsea job. The fans are disappointed, most of them fearing of another blow. Just to remind You, the Blues lost 3:1 at home in the reverse fixture played in September. To be worse, Rosenior has lot of issues ahead of this match. Reece James, Levi Colwill, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Mykhaylo Mudryk (doping) are all sidelined, while Benoit Badiashile and Filip Jorgensen are rated as doubtful. That's not all as three players (Pedro, Estevao Willian and Enzo Fernandez) suffered injuries against Manchester United and the club doctor has the last word.

Brighton vs Chelsea Prediction:

Both Brighton and Chelsea are fighting for Europe, so the points from this game are very important. According to me, Brighton are closer to the victory. Like always, the home advantage is between the reasons. However, the current form is the key reason. While the Seagulls have three victories and one draw in the last four rounds, Chelsea recorded four defeats in the same period. Worst of all, they failed to score a single goal. In addition, Rosenior has lot of injured players - Reece James, Levi Colwill, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Benoit Badiashile, Filip Jorgensen, Pedro, Estevao Willian and Enzo Fernandez. Some of them may recover in time for this match, though none of them is 100% ready. It is true Brighton also have injured players (Diego Gomez and Mitoma), but Chelsea handicap is bigger. The confidence is clearly on Brighton side and I expect the Blues' misery to continue.

Brighton vs Chelsea Pick: Brighton to win @ 2.40 with Everygame

 

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Liverpool vs Crystal Palace Preview (Saturday, 25.04.2026) Premier League:

Possible starting lineups:

Liverpool:
Woodman; Frimpong, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Wirtz, Szoboszlai; Isak

Crystal Palace:
Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Canvot; Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Sarr, Pino; Mateta

Liverpool will welcome Crystal Palace to Anfield on Saturday lunch time. The Reds are fifth on the table and this place will probably guarantee the Champions League football for the next season. Of course, the fans are not fully satisfied as they were expecting more. The current form is good, Liverpool are in mini-series of two consecutive victories. Liverpool first beat 2:0 Fulham at Anfield, courtesy the goals from Salah and Rio. Last weekend they won the Merseyside derby. This time the captain Virgil van Dijk was the hero after scoring in the stoppage time. The atmosphere in the squad is good, despite the Champions League exit and two defeats from Paris St Germain. The last two victories could "relax" Arne Slot, particularly if the winning series continue. But he has big injury issues ahead of this match. Goalkeepers Alisson Becker and Giorgi Mamardashvili are sidelined due to injuries. The best scorer Hugo Ekitike has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to Achilles injury, while Conor Bradley, Wataru Endo and Giovanni Leoni remain long-term injury victims.

Crystal Palace are on the 13th place with 43 points. They are out of the relegation battle, but at the same time far away from European spots. Nevertheless, the Eagles could qualify for UEFA Europe League if they win the Conference League. And it is not impossible, Crystal Palace will face Shakhtar Donetsk in the semi-finals. The Ukrainian side have no "classic" home advantage as they will play the first match in Krakow, Poland. Many English fans have already reserved the ticket and they will fly to Poland to support their club. According to some pundits, Oliver Glasner should be fully focused on Shakhtar, while the match with Liverpool is without importance for him. But Glasner is well known as manager who doesn't like defeats. On Monday Palace faced relegation-candidates West Ham. Many believed Palace will not play 100% and West Ham will win, but the all-London clash finished goalless. That was the 12th league clean sheet of the season for Palace. Glasner has four injury issues - Eddie Nketiah and Evann Guessand are sidelined, while Adam Wharton and Cheick Doucoure are rated as doubtful.

Liverpool vs Crystal Palace Prediction:

Liverpool will try to continue the winning series when they hosted Crystal Palace. The Reds are looking for a Champions League spot and three points from this match are very important. But Crystal Palace are the worst possible opponents this season. This will be the fourth meeting and the Eagles dominated the previous three. First they won the FA Community Shield on penalties. Next, Palace secured a 2:1 league victory in September. That match was a turning point for the Reds who fall in catastrophic way. Liverpool were unable to fully recover and they are still in crisis. Finally, the third defeat came in the Carabao Cup. Palace won 3:0 in October, though Arne Slot rested the regulars and played with youngsters. One thing is clear, Palace are not the most desirable opponents for Liverpool this season. To be worse, Slot will be missing both goalkeepers - Alisson Becker and Giorgi Mamardashvili - due to injuries. That's a big handicap, but there is more. Slot has no option in attack. Hugo Ekitike has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to Achilles injury, while Alexander Isak has just recovered from broken leg. So far he played two matches in which registered just five touches in the opposition box. Salah and Gakpo are not at last season's form, nobody is, except maybe Szoboszlai. I think Crystal Palace are able to upset the Reds for fourth consecutive time this season.

Liverpool vs Crystal Palace Pick: Crystal Palace +0.5 AH @ 2.62 with Everygame

 

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Wolverhampton vs Tottenham Preview (Saturday, 25.04.2026) Premier League:

Possible starting lineups:

Wolverhampton:
Bentley; Tchatchoua, Toti, S. Bueno, H. Bueno; J. Gomes, Andre, Mane; Bellegarde, Armstrong, Hwang

Tottenham:
Kinsky; Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Spence; Bergvall, Bentancur, Gallagher; Tel, Solanke, Simons

Wolverhampton Wanderers host relegation-threatened Tottenham Hotspur at Molineux on Saturday. Wolves will play in the Championship Division next season, though they surprised with some excellent results in the last period. Arsenal were clear favorites in February, however Wolverhampton shocked the leaders playing a 2:2 draw. Arsenal dropped two points and their importance is priceless, particularly knowing Manchester City are waiting for Gunners mistake. Nevertheless, the Wanderers created two more "wonders" in the next two matches at Molineux. The victory against high-flying Aston Villa completely changed the atmosphere in the squad. Full with confidence, the Wolves registered another victory against the reigning champions Liverpool. Manager Rob Edwards is doing a fantastic job and the fans are satisfied. Edwards will try to continue with good results at Molineux, but has some injury and suspension worries ahead of this match. Enso Gonzalez, Sam Johnstone and the suspended Yerson Mosquera are definitely out, but four more players are rated as doubtful - Angel Gomes, Ladislav Krejci, Jose Sa and Matt Doherty.

Tottenham play an awful season, they are in the drop zone and deeply involved in the relegation battle. This is the second consecutive season they are flirting with relegation. Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor were unable to change something, but Roberto de Zerbi is different type of coach. He constantly pressured the players, motivate them and ask for the fans' support. Tottenham looked much sharper under De Zerbi. The Spurs were close to secure the first victory in 2026 as they had 2:1 lead until the 95th minute, but Brighton equalized and the final score was 2:2. De Zerbi will go for the victory and I expect offensive approach. According to some pundits, the key reason for poor results is the injury situation. Indeed, seven players are struggling with injuries, some of them very important. Guglielmo Vicario, Mohammed Kudus, Ben Davies, Dejan Kulusevski, Cristian Romero and Wilson Odobert are definitely sidelined, while Destiny Udogie is rated as doubtful. James Maddison was an unused substitute against Brighton, meaning he fully recovered from injury, but need some time to find his best form.

Wolverhampton vs Tottenham Prediction:

Usually the matches between the bottom-placed side and the 18th on the table are not too attractive, but it is different now when already-relegated Wolverhampton host relegation-candidates Tottenham at Molineux on Saturday. Wolverhampton are in excellent home form. The last three visitors were Arsenal, Aston Villa and Liverpool. The fans were afraid of big defeats, but then happened something extra-ordinary. Wolves beat Aston Villa and Liverpool, while drew with Arsenal. Manager Rob Edwards is doing an excellent job, the players confidence is high. The fans will like Edwards to stay in the club for the next season, but it is clear he attracted attention from bigger clubs. About the match, I expect Over 2.5 goals here. Wolves scored two goals on each of the mentioned three home fixtures. Tottenham, meanwhile, looked much sharper under Roberto de Zerbi. The Spurs were close to secure the first victory in 2026 as they had 2:1 lead until the 95th minute, but Brighton equalized and the final score was 2:2. De Zerbi will go for the victory and I expect offensive approach from him. Edwards has nothing to lose, he will accept the challenge, so I expect an open and efficient game.

Wolverhampton vs Tottenham Pick: Over 2.5 goals @ 1.67 with Everygame

 

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Chelsea vs Leeds United Preview (Sunday, 26.04.2026) FA Cup:

Possible starting lineups:

Chelsea:
Sanchez; Acheampong, Chalobah, Hato, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Palmer, Pedro, Neto; Delap

Leeds United:
Perri; Struijk, Bijol, Rodon; Bogle, Ampadu, Tanaka, Gudmundsson; Aaronson, Okafor; Calvert-Lewin

Chelsea and Leeds United will face in the FA Cup semifinal. According to the tradition, the match will be played at Wembley. The Blues are favorites, though the atmosphere in the squad is very complicate at the moment. The last results weren't good and the club co-owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital decided to sack the manager Liam Rosenior after 106 days in charge. The Frenchman wasn't at desired level and the last results were poor. The FA Cup is their last chance for silverware. But even the cup trophy do not guarantee fans' satisfaction. Many of them commented Chelsea were extremely lucky in this competition as the opponents were lower-tier teams like Charlton Athletic, Hull City, Wrexham and Port Vale. However, the fans are expecting better results in the future. Calum McFarlane, who was Rosenior's assistant, will take over as interim manager until the end of the season. He has six players unavailable - Estevao Willian, Reece James, Filip Jorgensen, Levi Colwill and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens are injured, while Mykhaylo Mudryk is still serving a doping ban. On the positive note, Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer are ready.

Leeds United were very good in the last period. They have three wins and one draw in the last four matches. The Whites managed to beat West Ham, Manchester United and Wolverhampton, while shared the points with Bournemouth on Tuesday. With 40 points already on their account, Leeds should not be worried about relegation. They are in series of seven games without a defeat across all competitions. The atmosphere in the squad is good, while the players confidence is high. So far Leeds have eliminated Derby County, Birmingham City, Norwich City and most recently West Ham United on penalties. Farke has some injury issues ahead of trip to Wembley. He confirmed the bad news that midfielder Ilia Gruev will be out for a longer period due to a knee problem. Three other players are rated as doubtful: Jayden Bogle, Sebastiaan Bornauw and Anton Stach. The latest news from the medical department are optimistic and some of them could be ready in time for this match.

Chelsea vs Leeds United Prediction:

Few days ago Chelsea lost 3:0 at Brighton. It was their fifth consecutive league defeat without scoring. Last time something similar happened 114 years ago. The fans were frustrated and there were some angry chants from Chelsea's traveling supporters at Amex Stadium. The club owners reacted quickly and Rosenior was sacked. His assistant Calum McFarlane will lead the team until the end of the season. I expect some improvement as they can't play any worse. McFarlane was already in charge after previous boss Enzo Maresca was sacked, so he has some experience and that's very important. Chelsea have quality players, no doubt about that. The problem is their confidence is lost. McFarlane is not a top tactician, but he is definitely able to motivate them. With Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer back in the team, I expect Chelsea to win. Leeds were very good in the last period, they have three wins and one draw in the last four matches. But this kind of games are different, many players could not handle the pressure. Leeds have failed to score in their last three visits to Wembley, stretching back to 1996. Chelsea have more experienced players.

Chelsea vs Leeds United Pick: Chelsea to win @ 2.05 with Everygame

 

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Arsenal vs Fulham Preview (Saturday, 02.05.2026) Premier League:

Possible starting lineups:

Arsenal:
Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Eze

Fulham:
Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Lukic; Wilson, Smith Rowe, Chukwueze; Jimenez

Arsenal will welcome city rivals Fulham to the Emirates in the worst possible moment. This fixture is sandwiched between the two legs of UEFA Champions League semifinals. The Gunners have a good result from Spain, they played an 1:1 draw at Metropolitano. Not many goals like on the first semifinal between Bayern Munich and PSG, but still was an interesting match. Arsenal scored first when Viktor Gyokeres convert a penalty, but Julian Alvarez equalized soon after, again from penalty spot. There was a third penalty for a David Hancko 'foul' on Eberechi Eze, but VAR overturned the initial decision.

Arsenal are out of the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, but still in two competitions - Premier League and UEFA Champions League. The Gunners were fantastic in the first part of the season, but it is clear the current form isn't on highest level. Manager Mikel Arteta is under big pressure, though one trophy from the last two competitions could save the Spaniard. At least, that's my opinion. There is no space for any calculation, Arsenal must beat Fulham on Saturday and three days later Atletico Madrid. Arteta has some injury worries, but nothing dramatic. Jurrien Timber is out with a groin injury, while Mikel Merino is sidelined with a foot injury. Finally Kai Havertz rated as doubtful.

Fulham are in the middle of the table, on the 10th place with 48 points. The battle for Europa is still a big chance for the Cottagers. The sixth-placed Brighton have 50 points, so nothing is impossible. What is a problem, that's the fact current form is inconsistent. Fulham lost 2:0 to Liverpool three weeks ago, then played a goalless draw with Brentford and beat 1:0 Aston Villa. Marco Silva did a great job and the fans are pleased with the results. Most probably he will leave the club at the end of the season. For this match he could be without four players. Alex Iwobi, Kenny Tete and Kevin are definitely sidelined, while Ryan Sessegnon is rated as doubtful.

Arsenal vs Fulham Prediction:

I expect goals on both sides. Arsenal are leaders in the Premier League and three points from this match are extremely important. Dropping points will probably mean title will go to Manchester City. The Gunners will attack from the very first minute. Securing an early victory is exactly what they need, as the players are tired and some of them are injured. Arteta has three injury worries as Jurrien Timber, Mikel Merino and Kai Havertz are struggling with injuries. I describe the situation as not dramatic previously, but I must admit this is a specific period and every missing player is a handicap. Arteta must rotate, no doubt about that. But he need a victory to stay in the title race. Some players looked tired and out of energy. The home fans will be the 12th player and this fact should not be underestimated. Last season Arsenal won the fixture 2:1 and I expect something similar again.

Arsenal vs Fulham Pick: Both teams to score - Yes @ 2.00 with Bet365

 

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Manchester United vs Liverpool Preview (Sunday, 03.05.2026) Premier League:

Possible starting lineups:

Manchester United:
Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko

Liverpool:
Woodman; Jones, Van Dijk, Konate, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak

Manchester United will host Liverpool at Old Trafford in the biggest derby of English Premier League. The Red Devils are third on the table, while Liverpool fourth. The difference is just three points, however both managers - Michael Carrick and Arne Slot - will be satisfied with a Top-5 finish and Champions League ticket. Carrick is doing a fantastic job and he did something extra-ordinary. United fans started to believe in his project, but the players too. Carrick managed to established a connection between the players and fans, so now everybody is enjoying at Old Traddord. The current form is good, United won the last two matches. Matheus Cunha secured an 1:0 win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Man United then won 2:1 against Brentford thanks to goals scored by Casemiro and Benjamin Sesko. The players confidence is high and the Red Devils will attack the reigning champions. Most of the players are ready, though defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez are out due to injury and suspension. Usually it is a big problem when two regular centre-backs are not available, but not here. Experienced Maguire and young Heaven are simply fantastic. I am not sure De Ligt and Lisandro will instantly return to starting eleven when become available for selection. Two players are rated as doubtful - Matheus Cunha, who missed the Brentford victory with a minor hip injury and Luke Shaw, who came off injured in the last round.

Liverpool have started the new season with five consecutive victories, but after that everything went wrong way. The Reds were inconsistent during the big part of the season, but right now they are in fine series of three victories in the Premier League. After they beat 2:0 Fulham and 2:1 Everton in the Merseyside derby, Arne Slot's men have overcame Crystal Palace 3:1 last weekend. Alexander Isak scored his first goal after returning from injury, while Andy Robertson doubled the lead before the halftime. In the 71st minute of a match Daniel Munoz chipped the ball into an empty net after Woodman injured his knee while making a previous save. The goal was regular, but unfair. Palas failed to earn something and eventually lost 3:1 thanks to Wirtz. Some 25 years ago, Paolo di Canio showed how a genuine sportsman should react. In similar situation, the Italian refused to score, he caught the ball as Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard lay injured in a memorable moment of sportsmanship. I am very sorry Munoz missed an opportunity to become a "new hero". Now about the injury situation. Mohamed Salah, the club best player in the last decade, is sidelined. The best scorer in the actual season Hugo Ekitike will be out for at least 10 months due to ACL injury. Worst of all, Slot is facing a "goalkeepers crisis". Alisson Becker is struggling with a hamstring injury and he is doubtful, while the reserve keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is out with a knee injury. Third keeper Edwards is also not fully fit. Finally, Milos Kerkez is suffering from a niggle, while Jayden Danns, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Wataru Endo are long-term injury victims.

Manchester United vs Liverpool Prediction:

Liverpool won 3:1 against Crystal Palace, their third victory in a row. The players confidence is higher and that's good. But there are some bad news too. The fans at Anfield celebrated the victory, but at the same time massively protested against the owners over ticket price rises. This is a big problem, the players and fans are in close connection. No team had success without fans, particularly Liverpool. This is the first reason for my tip. The second is connect with the team news. While Manchester United are almost complete, Liverpool will be missing up to six important players due to injuries. Among them Mohamed Salah, the club best player in the last decade. The Egyptian has fantastic numbers to his name, 16 goals and eight assists against Man United. But there is more, the best scorer of the actual season Hugo Ekitike will be out for at least 8 months due to ACL injury. Worst of all, Slot is facing a "goalkeepers crisis". Alisson Becker is struggling with a hamstring injury and he is doubtful, while the reserve keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is out with a knee injury. The No3 keeper Edwards is not fully fit. The third and last reason is connect with Manchester United. They are in much better form. Bruno Fernandes is inches away from writing a history. He registered his 19th assist of the season against Brentford and the Portuguese is now just one Premier League assist away from equaling Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne's single-season record of 20 assists. With four games in the remaining part of the season, I believe Bruno will set a new record. The captain is also the leader of the team. It will be very difficult for Liverpool defense to keep him silent. But there are three more players able to make a difference in the derby: Mbeumo, Sesko and Cunha. Liverpool have no more players like Mane, Firmino and Luis Dias, Salah is injured. It will be impossible to avoid the defeat here.

Manchester United vs Liverpool Pick: Manchester United to win @ 2.34 with Pinnacle