Liverpool FC Women are delighted to announce Matt Beard has been appointed as the club's new manager.

THE DETAILS

Venue – Old Trafford, Manchester

Referee – Anthony Taylor

Date & Time – Thursday, May 13th @ 20:15

Current Odds – Manchester United 9/5, Draw 11/4, Liverpool 11/8

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Time is running out for Liverpool to claw their way back into the Premier League’s top four and those Champions League qualification spots. Old Trafford would surely be the worst imaginable place for those dreams to die altogether. It’s been that kind of season, though. Let’s hope a win is on the cards that can keep us believing for another week or two at least.

FORM

Manchester United Form

Manchester United fielded a much-changed squad on Tuesday night against Leicester City. They lost that game 2-1, giving Manchester City the Premier League title and striking a further nail in the coffin of Liverpool’s hopes of a top-four finish.

It was United’s fifth defeat of the season. They are second in the league on 70 points, 10 behind City and 13 ahead of Liverpool at the moment.

Liverpool Form

Liverpool have had such a stop-start campaign. After looking to rekindle their domestic form in recent weeks, The Reds then dropped points at Leeds and at home to Newcastle. Thankfully, they took all three points against Southampton on Saturday night. This leaves them six points off Leicester with a game in hand.

Many Liverpool fans just want this season to end so our injured players can get back in training and get a full pre-season under their belts. However, Jürgen Klopp knows a Champions League spot could be huge in enticing any potential incoming transfers to Anfield this summer. Unfortunately, it may be too late for Liverpool to fight back now.

TEAM NEWS

Manchester United Team News

Phil Jones, Harry Maguire, Daniel James, and Anthony Martial are out for Manchester United.

Ole Gunnar Solskjær has enjoyed what would have to be considered a relatively good season in charge of United. He normally lines his side out in a 4-2-3-1 formation. That’s likely to be the case again on Sunday with Edinson Cavani leading the line in attack.

Fred and Scott McTominay will probably be the duo at the base of the midfield with Mason Greenwood, Bruno Fernandes, and Paul Pogba farther up, just behind Rashford.

In central defence, Victor Lindelöf and Harry Maguire will partner up.

Liverpool Team News

Liverpool are without Jordan Henderson, Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Joël Matip, Caoimhin Kelleher, and Divock Origi.

Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams could continue as our centre-half partnership at Old Trafford. Ozan Kabak missed the Southampton win through injury and could still be out for this one.

In midfield, Thiago Alcântara played well and scored his first goal for Liverpool against The Saints. However, James Milner could be brought into the starting lineup in place of Thiago for some extra solidity from the start in this one.

Roberto Firmino may also return to the starting eleven in place of Diogo Jota.

PREDICTED LINEUPS

Manchester United XI (4-2-3-1) – Henderson; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelöf, Bailly, Shaw; Fred, McTominay; Rashford, Fernandes, Pogba; Cavani

Liverpool XI (4-3-3) – Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Phillips, Williams, Robertson; Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Milner; Salah, Firmino, Mané

WHEN THEY LAST MET

The two rivals met twice back in January. The first game, at Anfield, was 0-0 in the Premier League. Then, seven days later, Manchester United won 3-2 at Old Trafford in the FA Cup. Mohamed Salah scored both of Liverpool’s goals that day with Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford, and Bruno Fernandes on the scoresheet for United.

Liverpool haven’t won at Old Trafford since 2014 when Steven Gerrard (x2 penalties) and Luis Suarez were the heroes of the day.

PREDICTION

MANCHESTER UNITED 1 – 1 LIVERPOOL

It could be a third Premier League draw in four games for Liverpool on Thursday. Back Mohamed Salah to bag at least one as he was in great form at Old Trafford in the FA Cup in January. I don’t think The Reds will have enough about them to win on Sunday, unfortunately.

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Follow live and interactive coverage of Liverpool's Premier League clash with Manchester United in our Match Centre.

Watch extended highlights of Liverpool U18s' FA Youth Cup victory against Ipswich Town on LFCTV GO now.

A superb second-half performance saw Marc Bridge-Wilkinson's side turn the game around and reach the final, after trailing to a goal just before the interval.

A deflected Mateusz Musialowski effort drew the Reds level before substitute Melkamu Frauendorf came off the bench to provide the semi-final's decisive moment.

LFCTV GO subscribers can see the best of the action in the highlights package above.

App users should tap here to watch.

Start a free one-month trial of LFCTV GO now using the code 2021GOFREE - this can be cancelled at any time.

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Watch extended highlights of Liverpool U18s' FA Youth Cup victory against Ipswich Town on LFCTV GO now.

There was no hiding the smile on Jarell Quansah’s face as he was being interviewed live by BT Sport on Wednesday evening — and who could blame him?

The central defender, who joined Liverpool at the age of five after being scouted playing for a local team in his native Warrington, had just captained the club’s under-18s side to the FA Youth Cup final and felt “unbelievable”.

Just as he had been in victories over Sutton United, Manchester United, Leicester City and Arsenal in previous rounds, Quansah, who can also play at right-back, was a composed leader in the 2-1 comeback win over Ipswich Town in the semi-final.

In the first half, Liverpool had struggled against a team who looked to relish their “underdogs” tag.

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LFC Foundation last year launched the LFC x NHS Charities Together range – a charity collection, designed by eight-year-old competition winner Daniel, which demonstrates togetherness and teamwork.

All profits from the collection are to be split equally between NHS Charities Together, supporting NHS staff and volunteers caring for COVID-19 patients, and LFC Foundation for its response and recovery work throughout the pandemic.

Items from this exclusive range are now available at reduced prices.

During the Easter school term break, participants at LFC Foundation’s holiday camps were tasked with helping create a message for NHS workers and volunteers to thank them for their commitment and dedication to helping us throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

With bibs and balls, the youngsters spelt out ‘NHS THANK U’ and shouted the message after finishing their football sessions.

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LFC Foundation last year launched the LFC x NHS Charities Together range – a charity collection, designed by eight-year-old competition winner Daniel, which demonstrates togetherness and teamwork.

Thiago Alcantara became the 29th player to score his first Premier League goal for Liverpool with a strike from outside the box last weekend.

The Spain international curled in a 90th-minute effort against Southampton to open his Reds account and seal a 2-0 win for Jürgen Klopp’s team.

Thiago followed in the footsteps of 28 others in the Premier League era, including several current teammates, by converting from distance to begin his LFC tally.

See who else did so – and how – in the compilation below.

App users should tap here to load the video.

[embedded content]

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Thiago Alcantara became the 29th player to score his first Premier League goal for Liverpool with a strike from outside the box last weekend.

Take a numerical look back at Liverpool's 2000-01 treble season with our 25 facts and figures from an exhilarating campaign for Gerard Houllier's team.

Deep down, Virgil van Dijk must have known his season would end like this after leaving Goodison Park in an ambulance. He had marched around the pitch that autumn afternoon trying to show he was still in control but apparently, as soon as he sat down in the temporary changing rooms of the Park End, Liverpool’s staff would have been unable to get him back up even if they needed to.

There are lots of reasons why Liverpool’s title defence has been an abomination but any sober version of events would centre on this awful moment, which left the player wondering whether he’d ever be able to take to the pitch again.

Being the person he is, Van Dijk got over those dark thoughts quickly enough and made himself believe in the impossible. He appreciated that patience was needed but there could be no other way out.

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Marc Bridge-Wilkinson and Jarell Quansah both hailed the spirit and quality of Liverpool U18s after they reached the final of the FA Youth Cup.

Liverpool under-18s came from behind to beat Ipswich Town and book their place in the FA Youth Cup Final.

FA Youth Cup Semi-Final
Portman Road, 12 May 2021

Goals: Agbaje 45′; Musialowski 63′, Frauendorf 81′

The young Reds made it to their second final in three seasons thanks to second-half goals from Mateusz Musialowski and substitute Melkamu Frauendorf but they were made to work for it by the Suffolk side.

The first half was typically tight for a game of this nature and saw few chances for either side, with Ipswich nullifying the threat of Reds’ danger man James Balagizi.

But the hosts took the lead just before the break through Edwin Agbaje when Reds’ ‘keeper Harvey Davies failed to keep out his header at the back post.

Liverpool came out a lot faster in the second half and eventually got the leveller through the impressive Polish 17-year-old, Musialowski – his shot, after some nice footwork on the edge of the box, took a deflection to wrong-foot the ‘keeper.

The winning goal arrived when Frauendorf replaced Musialowski and within two minutes the German attacker found the net to make it 2-1, curling in his shot when cutting from the left on his right foot after a good run from out wide created the chance.

It seemed like Liverpool’s superior quality was always going to tell and that was eventually how it proved, but credit to Ipswich for making a very tough match out of it.

“We were much better in the second half,” said coach Marc Bridge-Wilkinson post-match. “It was about being more aggressive with the ball, playing forwards a bit quicker.”

Liverpool will play away to Aston Villa or West Brom in the final later this month, with the two Midlands sides playing their semi-final on Friday. A final against Aston Villa would be quite ironic, with Liverpool’s first-team having already played Villa’s youth team in the FA Cup this season.

The Reds last lifted the prestigious youth trophy in 2019 when a team containing Neco Williams, Rhys Williams, Leighton Clarkson and Jake Cain beat Man City on penalties in the final.

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Liverpool U18s: Davies, Bradley, Norris, Quansah (C), Koumetio, Stephenson, Corness, Morton, Woltman, Balagizi, Musialowski (Frauendorf 79′).

Subs not used: Mrozek, Jonas, Wilson, Chambers, Mabaya, Bajcetic.

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Liverpool U18s reached the final of the FA Youth Cup after producing a 2-1 come-from-behind victory at Ipswich Town on Wednesday evening.

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has revealed he has been receiving advice from Sir Alex Ferguson.

Gerrard was named the Scottish Football Writers' Association's top manager following his title success with Rangers, their first top-flight title since 2011.

Ferguson, who grew up a Rangers fan and played for the club, this week spoke of how impressed he has been by Gerrard's performance as manager.

"Oh, he's done magnificent," Ferguson told The Guardian. "He really has, both on and off the field. A press interview can lose you your job in management.

"But Steven's press conferences are fantastic. He's cool, he's composed, he gives the right answers. He's really top because it's an art."

We were massive rivals for many years and he's someone that even though he was a rival I looked up to him immensely because he is such an iconic figure in the game. Steven Gerrard on Sir Alex Ferguson

Former Liverpool captain Gerrard responded by saying he was "humbled" to received such praise from such an "iconic figure".

"Through no fault of our own we became big, big rivals at Liverpool and Manchester United, the two biggest clubs in British football," he said.

Thursday 13th May 8:00pm Kick off 8:15pm

"We were massive rivals for many years and he's someone that even though he was a rival I looked up to him immensely because he is such an iconic figure in the game. What he achieved in the game is up there with the very best who have ever lived. So I'm really flattered and humbled by his words."

With their bitter rivalry behind them, Gerrard said he has been benefitting from Ferguson's advice during his Rangers tenure and the pair plan to meet soon.

"I'll let you into a little secret: I've had a couple of conversations with him," Gerrard said. "Since I retired we have parked our rivalry up and he gave me time on the phone to bounce a few things off him, a few questions to do with the management up here at Rangers.

"He was fantastic in those conversations. At some point moving forward I'd love the chance to sit down with him and have a coffee. He's agreed to that and that's fantastic from his point of view because he doesn't have to give me his time, especially being a rival. But I think that goes to show what type of man he is. He's not just the iconic manager we all know."

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Liverpool head to Old Trafford tomorrow and we know we’ve no choice but to go for the win – at a ground Jurgen Klopp has yet to taste victory on.

Ecru away kit returns!

You’ve probably already seen the seemingly reliable leaks of Liverpool’s home and third kit for next season by now.

And, in turn, our away kit now appears leaked too: we’ll be back in ecru, the cult off-colour picking from 96/97 under Roy Evans.

Nike’s effort has a polo neck collar, dark blue and red details and the Liverbird also in red.

You can see here for the leaked image and a mock-up of how the Reds might look in it.

Van Dijk out of Euro 2020

 

Virgil has to make the call himself, said Dutch boss De Boer recently.

Well, he has, and our No. 4 won’t be going.

Van Dijk says he’s “gutted”, but wants to focus on a full recovery all summer long, ahead of a massive 18 months: he wants a big improvement for the Reds next season, with the World Cup to follow in 2022 for Netherlands.

He does say he’s at peace with his decision to not lead the team out at the Euros, and is in a good place mentally – which is music to Reds’ fans ears.

We’ll want him back at peak fitness next term.

Hendo, though, has a chance of making the Euros.

Build-up to United

In six attempts, Klopp is yet to lead Liverpool to a win at Old Trafford. Here’s hoping for seventh time lucky after they gifted Leicester three points on Tuesday.

Quickfire LFC news

• Former Red Chris Lawler needs a hip operation which he looked to fund publicly – but another former Red, remaining anonymous, has stepped in to foot the £20k bill

Around the Prem

• Ralph Hasenhuttl is optimistic that Saints can keep Danny Ings at the club this summer, having put his new set of manacles and chains through a rigorous testing procedure

• And Aymeric Laporte has grown bored of watching France on TV during the international breaks and is switching to Spain instead, completely coincidentally allowing him to play at the Euros

Best ideas of the day

Today’s applause goes to Ajax, who are melting down their Eredivisie shield and forming 42,000 tiny stars out of it, each of which will be sent to season ticket holders to allow them to share in a title-winning season that they weren’t allowed to witness up close.

Runner-up spot goes to Motherwell, who are renewing season tickets for free for fans who purchased them for 20/21.

Tweet of the day

City have a worse defensive record than they had in 17/18 and 18/19.

But Dias has "transformed them".

— The Two Footed Podcast (@TwoFootedPod) May 11, 2021

Worth watching tonight

Chelsea vs Arsenal, Inter vs Roma or Atletico vs Real Sociedad. Choose your poison carefully.

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Liverpool’s away kit for the 2021/22 campaign has now leaked, with the Nike shirt a throwback to the ecru kit of the 1990s, featuring a polo neck collar.

The club are due to officially unveil their home kit for next season later this month, with Jurgen Klopp‘s side to debut Nike’s second offering against Crystal Palace on May 23.

Designs and colour schemes have already leaked for both the away and third kits, and now images have been uncovered showing the away shirt in full.

Courtesy of the reliable Footy Headlines, the away kit is predominantly ecru with red and black colouring for the badges and sponsors, along with a dark blue polo neck with red and ecru detailing.

It is a throwback to the Reebok away kit worn by Roy Evans’ Liverpool in 1996/97, which has become a cult classic among supporters.

96-97 Inspiration ? 21-22 Kit ? pic.twitter.com/1r1F8p7c8u

— Footy Headlines (@Footy_Headlines) May 12, 2021

Parallels have already been drawn between Roma’s home and away kits for 2020/21 and Liverpool’s for next season, with it appearing as though Nike have recycled their designs.

But both are arguably improved on this season, with the nod to the ’90s a welcome one, and the away kit should suit Jurgen Klopp‘s squad well.

To highlight this, designer @lfcdzn11 has already mocked up the leaked away kit on to Mohamed Salah:

Liverpool’s rumoured third kit will be yellow, with red, white and grey detailing, in a nod to Joe Fagan’s treble-winning side of 1983/84.

Fittingly, the Reds beat Roma at the Stadio Olimpico to clinch their fourth European Cup that season!

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Liverpool look set to be without Ozan Kabak, James Milner, Naby Keita and Ben Davies for Thursday night's trip to Manchester United.