Jose Mourinho’s resurgent Manchester United, with stars Zlatan Ibrahimovic set to be back from injury and Paul Pogba in good form, will attempt to reel in arch rivals Liverpool when Jurgen Klopp’s faltering side visit Old Trafford in Sunday’s Premier League headline clash.
United have won their last nine games in all competitions — their best run since an 11-match winning streak in early 2009 — while Liverpool are still to win a game in 2017.
United’s trip to Anfield fell during a troubling sequence that saw them win just twice in 11 league outings.
But although they have sat in sixth place for over two months, they are now just three points off a Champions League place and five points below second-place Liverpool.
A key factor in their revival has been the improved form of record signing Paul Pogba, who has seemed liberated since Michael Carrick was brought into the team to anchor the midfield.
The France midfielder has scored three goals and supplied three assists in his last 10 games and credits Mourinho with giving him the freedom to play his natural game.
Coutinho comeback
Wayne Rooney would love to score the 250th goal he needs to surpass Bobby Charlton as United’s outright record scorer against Liverpool, but having started the last two games, he may drop to the bench.
Mourinho hopes to have 18-goal top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic back after he missed Tuesday’s 2-0 League Cup semi-final first-leg win over Hull City through illness.
Marcos Rojo, who missed that game with a muscle strain, is also due to be assessed, but fellow defender Eric Bailly is on Africa Cup of Nations duty with the Ivory Coast.
Liverpool established their credentials as leaders Chelsea’s closest rivals by beating Manchester City 1-0 on New Year’s Eve, only to then be held to a 2-2 draw at struggling Sunderland.
