Michael Owen bold prediction for Liverpool vs Man Utd sums up Erik ten Hag problems

Michael Owen bold prediction for Liverpool vs Man Utd sums up Erik ten Hag problems

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is under huge pressure ahead of his side’s trip to Anfield on Sunday and Michael Owen believes Liverpool will comfortably beat them

Michael Owen is expecting a “reasonably comfortable win” for Liverpool when they host Manchester United on Sunday, claiming Erik ten Hag’s side will be nervous about the trip to Anfield.

United head into the tie under huge pressure, having been thrashed 3-0 by Bournemouth last weekend before crashing out of Europe in midweek.

They could also be without up to 13 players for the match after both Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw picked up injuries against Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

And Owen, who played for both clubs during his career, believes some United players will be happy if they only lose 2-0 after conceding seven goals in the same fixture last season.

“I’d say United will be a little bit nervous about going to Anfield considering their recent form,” Owen told Boyle Sports, who offer the latest Premier League betting. “Anfield can be a stadium where you may take a real beating and United have felt that in the past!

“Instead of going there with fear and defending the entire game, United should look at how Spurs played against Man City. They had a real plan and arrived at the Etihad Stadium with no fear.

“They could have easily lost 6-1, but that’s the only way you improve. Once you have a blueprint, you can amend it from there.

“My concern with United is that they’ll go to Anfield and lose 2-0, then a few players will be relieved that it wasn’t a 5-0 embarrassment! If I were them, I would pick a way of playing, stick to it and hope to get better.

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is under huge pressure

“I’ll say 2-0 to Liverpool. It’ll be a reasonably comfortable win.” Despite the differing fortunes of the two clubs at the moment, Owen believes it is still the biggest rivalry in English football.

He added: “I still think that Man United vs Liverpool is still the biggest. However, if Man City win 15 titles in the next 20 years, then history will point to them being the most decorated team.

“If I’m going on the size of the fanbases, histories, stadiums, and everything else surrounding those clubs, then I think more people will tune into Man United vs Liverpool than any other Premier League game. I think it’s still the biggest rivalry.”