Talking points

Liverpoolfc.com's Sam Williams had an enjoyable afternoon picking out five talking points from the 3-1 win at Anfield. Click here to read his analysis of the 90 minutes.

From the dressing room

Match-winner Shaqiri and Reds captain on the day, Van Dijk, spoke to Liverpoolfc.com shortly after the final whistle. Watch their reactions to the win via LFCTV GO below...

Liverpool reaction

Mane and Van Dijk have been speaking to Sky Sports and reflecting on what they considered a well deserved win for the Reds.

Mane: "We're very happy, of course. We played great football today and created many chances. We are Liverpool, we never give up. The stadium was behind us. We pushed harder and harder and finally scored three goals."

Van Dijk: "We had the bigger chances. They were dangerous sometimes on the break; we know they are very good at that. But we dominated the game and we're very happy."

If you get a second in between celebrating, here are the final facts and figures from Anfield...

Back to the top we go...

Three minutes added on at Anfield.

Match shot

Impact. Sub.

Stat

There were 144 seconds between Shaqiri coming off the bench and his finish at the Kop end.

Liverpool continue to shoot from distance at every opportunity and the latest is from Fabinho's right foot. It's well struck and rising but too close to De Gea.

A warning from the visitors, however.

Robertson produces a crucial defensive header to prevent Fellaini an almost-certain goal when Young forces space on the left flank and sends in a swerving delivery.

The pressure is rising again and now it's Van Dijk whose strike is blocked by a United body inside the area as the captain cracked a shot from 20 yards.

Chance.

A short corner allows Salah to turn inside the box and sweep a cross to the far post, where Lovren meets it well but his header is deflected wide.

Clyne lets fly with a couple of ambitious drives from distance that are harmless to the United goal but Liverpool have seized control of this game again and are making all the running as it stands.

What a save.

Firmino's determination wriggles him into just enough room in the area to toe-poke towards the far right corner - but De Gea gets fingertips on it and Young dives in to deny Keita on the rebound.

Robertson surges forward having collected Lovren's diagonal pass and creates a gap to set up Salah but the Egyptian's first-time swipe off his left foot is crowded out.

Keita then comes agonisingly close to reaching Mane's cross from right to left, only for United to clear.

All the stats from the first 45 minutes at Anfield...

Back to the other end and Fabinho, who has impressed throughout the first half, has a thump from 20 yards deflected out for a corner - but the away side clear the danger.

A good spell for United sees Herrera test Alisson with a smack from distance - the Brazilian adjusts well to collect after a slight deflection off Lovren.

The Reds search for their own response and neat footwork by Fabinho near the United box allows the midfielder to tee up Mane for another strike at goal - but this one lacks the power or direction to concern De Gea.

Nearly two.

Firmino keeps a Liverpool free-kick alive at the back post and turns it to Lovren in the middle but the defender hooks his finish over the crossbar from close range.

Boom

We've reached the 20-minute mark and there has been no indent on the scoresheet but the Reds are undoubtedly in control, with 65 per cent of possession and nine shots to the visitors' one.

Firmino is seeing plenty of the ball in the opening exchanges and the No.9 smacks another hopeful effort too high from 20 yards out.

Match shot

Early tussles.

The Reds are pushing strongly here.

They win back possesion high up the pitch and the ball eventually comes out to Fabinho, whose low drive is flicked out at the expense of a corner.

From that, Young has to mop up on the goalline and United eventually clear.

Unlucky!

Firmino tries his luck with a left-footer from outside the area and De Gea gets down well to claw it out. Mane scoops up the rebound and crosses towards Salah, who goes down under pressure from Lindelof - but the referee waves away any penalty appeals.

Reminder that you can analyse the game as it happens with our interactive Opta chalkboard below...

The first real threat comes from Liverpool as Salah gets on the ball in the centre and uses his pace to worry United; he threads a pass to Firmino to his right and the shot is blocked away.

Almost time...

The two teams have emerged and the noise levels are rising inside Anfield. We're moments away from kick-off.

Late change for the visitors.

Chris Smalling was injured in the warm-up and is replaced in the starting XI by Eric Bailly while Phil Jones takes a spot on the bench.

Now arriving...

Inside the home dressing room...

Klopp on Milner's absence and Clyne's inclusion

The boss has explained why James Milner misses out and Nathaniel Clyne comes in for his first Premier League appearance of the season this afternoon.

“Millie felt a muscle a little bit and we cannot take any risk, that’s it,” said Klopp.

“[Clyne is] As ready as possible - he is a high-class player. 

“He didn’t play for a while, that’s true, he was injured and we had other options in the position. That’s how life sometimes is, it’s not really fair but it was the situation. 

“But he trained most of the time without any complaints. In the last two to two-and-a-half weeks he had a couple of problems, but he’s available now. He’s fine. Physically he’s ready - I asked him and he said ‘yeah, the adrenaline will help’. 

“The next option, Rafa Camacho, I would’ve taken that as well, it’s a good option and he’s on the bench. So as long as we have options, all good.”

The formations

Our friends at Opta predict the sides will shape up like so...

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And in opposition...

Manchester United: De Gea, Darmian, Smalling, Lindelof, Dalot, Herrera, Matic, Young, Lingard, Rashford, Lukaku.

Substitutes: Martial, Mata, Valencia, Bailly, Romero, Pogba, Fellaini.

TEAM NEWS

Liverpool make four changes for the clash with Manchester United as Nathaniel Clyne is handed a first Premier League appearance of the season. Dejan Lovren, Fabinho and Naby Keita also start.

Liverpool: Alisson, Clyne, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Keita, Mane, Salah, Firmino.

Subs: Mignolet, Henderson, Sturridge, Moreno, Lallana, Shaqiri, Camacho.

Oh, Andy, Andy!

Andy Robertson takes care of the pre-match media duties at Anfield.

'...and it's off to the match I go...'

Last time out

The boss mentioned the midweek win over Napoli and you can enjoy the story of that big night at Anfield again with the latest episode of our unmissable Inside Anfield series...

What are the odds?

BetVictor is offering the following prices on the match.

Liverpool - 4/7
Draw - 16/5
Manchester United - 11/2

Click here for more details.

Anfield takes centre stage

The manager has urged his side to embrace the emotions involved with a match that will demand the world's attention at 4pm GMT...

"For the players, my staff and I, we absolutely need to keep focused on the job to do and the game that is to be played," Klopp writes in his programme notes.

"We need to recognise that performing well and working hard are essential. We need to not abandon the processes that have served us well until now. We need to do all the things we do for the other 18 home games during a league campaign.

"But it is possible to do all that without ignoring what the fixture means. It's a matter of take from the moment what helps you. Positive emotion helps - positive energy helps - we saw this on Tuesday night.

"Without question, our players embraced what was at stake and performed with that extra wind in their sails. The element of games like this that make it harder, is that you do not play in isolation.

"Lined up against us today is a squad of 18 world-class players, with equal desire, who are led by one of the most successful managers in the modern game. Their team and squad is packed full of players who are conditioned to perform on the biggest platforms.

"Anfield is centre stage for the football world today."

Anfield's ready...

10 of the best

Let's hope we're forced to update the collection below after this game...

Did you know?

Never before have Liverpool strung together a sequence of 18 Premier League matches unbeaten - a mark Klopp's side will reach should they avoid defeat today.

'He gets the ball, he scores again...'

'When you sign for Liverpool, you have these games in mind'

One man hoping to experience Liverpool v Manchester United for the first time this afternoon is Fabinho.

"I believe it is the biggest rivalry in English football," the Brazil international told Liverpoolfc.com.

"I’m definitely looking forward to it. When you sign for Liverpool you have these types of games in mind. With the passion of the fans, their support, we go on the field to give our best to put on a show for them."

Go behind the scenes of Liverpool's Friday afternoon session at Melwood with our 'Inside Training' video...

Cover star...

Team news

We know for sure that Jürgen Klopp will have to make one change to his starting XI, with Joel Matip ruled out with a fractured collarbone, while Trent Alexander-Arnold is also a doubt due to a knock.

Joe Gomez is also out, of course, but Nathaniel Clyne could return.

Manchester United, meanwhile, missed Diogo Dalot, Matteo Darmian, Victor Lindelof, Anthony Martial, Alexis Sanchez, Luke Shaw and Chris Smalling for their trip to Valencia in midweek due to fitness issues.

Watch Klopp's pre-match press conference in full below...

If that Steven Gerrard goal versus United doesn't get you in the mood, nothing will...

Take a look at the picture at the top of the table, and how the two teams' Premier League seasons so far compare, below...

Here we go again, then!

Welcome to Liverpoolfc.com's live matchday blog on yet another huge day in the Reds' season, with Manchester United visiting Anfield this afternoon.

We'll keep you right up to date with everything that happens before, during and after the game - so stick with us for the best coverage of one of world football's biggest fixtures.