Preview of the Premier League double club: Manchester United is expected to break through Anfield after 10 years

It is an indisputable fact that Liverpool's state has declined. Just one year after Slott arrived at Anfield, the team fell into a triple attack of injuries, sluggish form and tactical confusion. The team's confidence is fragile; if Arsenal win the first game before Sunday, the lead will be extended to 4 points and the pressure will further increase. And their opponents are far from stable. Amorim's performance as a team leader continues to fluctuate, with players jumping repeatedly between flashes and chaos. It is for this reason that this trip to Anfield is regarded as a godsend. Facing Liverpool with a incomplete lineup and a crisis of confidence, Amorim's disciples smelled the smell of blood, and the odds were rarely "50-50".

Before the October international match, Liverpool had suffered three consecutive defeats in all competitions. This was the first time since Slott took office. The defensive hardness evaporated - conceding 9 goals in 7 league rounds, compared with only 2 goals in the same period last year; there were only 2 clean sheets, against Burnley and Arsenal. The injury list is getting longer and longer: Alisson, Konate, and Grafenberg are all exempt from the game. Among them, Alisson and Grafenberger have hamstring injuries, and Konate has a thigh problem.

From highs to lows, Grafenberger's opponents have figured out how to defend him and are crazy about him. Against Chelsea, Enzo and Gusteau almost made him "disappear". The more deadly hidden danger lies in the frontcourt. Wirtz, introduced in the summer window for 116 million pounds, was supposed to usher in a new era for Liverpool, but the 22-year-old German has so far had 0 goals and 0 assists.

McAllister's situation is also not good. Due to the muscle injury left over from last season, he has not played a full 90 minutes this season. The club internally compared his case to that of Isaac - his preparation for the summer was not systematic, which led to him chasing physical fitness and rhythm at the beginning of the season, resulting in poor performance.

Salah only scored 2 goals in the league, but his record of 16 goals in 17 games against Manchester United is still daunting; however, the decline in output is an indisputable fact. Without Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool's chemistry on the right side failed. Neither Frimpong or Bradley can provide the English passing touch, and Salah has been left on an island at times. He still pressed diligently, but his defensive contribution declined, and Liverpool's right rib was frequently blasted. Slaughter understands that the balance is delicate and Salah's offensive value is still worth the risk. But the opponent has become more and more daring to attack this side.

The wing thickness is also the thinnest in recent years: Dias moved to Bayern, Chiesa became the only substitute, and there was no second winger on the bench against Chelsea. The timing of substitutions was also questioned - the 74th minute replaced Isaac, who was just starting to gain momentum, causing an uproar from the outside world. Fortunately, the team's life is tough: in 11 official games, 8 goals occurred in the 83rd minute or later - not so much domination as a dying struggle.

Originally regarded as Slott's "stepping up" season, it is beginning to resemble the "transition year" that most people predicted a year ago. More terrifying schedules are coming one after another: an away game against Brentford, a main game against Villa, and then consecutive trips to Manchester City and West Ham, putting great pressure on scoring points. Liverpool's collapse couldn't have come at a worse time.

If Liverpool are becoming fragile, Manchester United are simply unpredictable. Amorim's team is like a roller coaster: sometimes attacking the mercury-filled ground, sometimes collectively short-circuiting. Their expected goals (xG) this season is 10.1, the highest in the Premier League, but they are profligate; they have many shots but few goals. In 7 rounds of games, Manchester United has scored more shots than its opponents in 6 games, but so far they have not won away games.

The last time Manchester United won at Anfield was Rooney's buzzer-beater in 2016; it has been a tragedy since then, but the 2-2 last season at least gave people a glimpse of progress. Amorim has only won 19 games in 50 games since taking office in November last year and has never won two consecutive league games. His favorite 3-4-2-1 has been criticized for its limited B-cost effect and large loopholes in the transition phase. In recent weeks, he has shown his pragmatic side: against Sunderland, he asked rookie goalkeeper Ramence to take the big kick directly; center Cesco competed for the first point, while Mbeumo and Mount grabbed the second point - more direct, but more suitable for the existing team.

This time against Liverpool in an away game, it may be Manchester United's best opportunity to defeat their opponent in 10 years.