Liverpool v Manchester United: Premier League – live

Karen As’adi emails: “I hardly think Ten Hag is the one who’s going to take us to the promised land but alternative would be another Rangnik-esque season, simply because there’s not really a good option right now. So let’s keep him this season, if it didn’t work out maybe we can entice De Zerbi in the summer. But more important things must change first.”

A good time to chuck out my Mainoo piece from a couple of weeks back. United think he is rather good.

Jonny Evans starts at centre-back, Mainoo in midfield and Hojlund gets the nod up top. Will Liverpool be worried? I doubt.

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Szoboszlai, Endo, Gravenberch; Salah, Nunez, Diaz.

Subs: Adrian, Kelleher, Gomez, Jones, Elliott, Gakpo, McConnell, Quansah, Bradley,

Manchester United: Onana; Dalot, Varane, Evans, Shaw; Amrabat, Mainoo, McTominay; Antony, Hojlund, Garnacho

Subs: Bayindir, Kambwala, Reguilon, Wan-Bissaka, Gore, Hannibal, Pellistri, Van de Beek, Rashford

Who will start for United? No one knows.

Jeff Sax has been in touch: “Ten Hag is not up for the job. The results show it and all the articles written in your paper explain it. Put us all out of our misery and let him go!”

Maybe today is the day he turns it around.

Rumours surfacing that McTominay will be captain in Fernandes’ absence. What a turnaround for him at Old Trafford. Ten Hag was happy for him to be sold in the summer and now he is one of United’s most important players.

Liverpool are certainly on a roll. I was at their home game against Fulham where they managed to secure a late win through Trent Alexander-Arnold. They were not a their best but Klopp was able to tweak things throughout the game to give Liverpool an edge, moving Alexander-Arnold from right-back to central midfield. This level of adaptability is really helping Liverpool progress this season.

An update on Tom Lockyer’s condition from Luton: “While our captain Tom Lockyer remains in hospital following the cardiac arrest he suffered on the pitch at Bournemouth yesterday, we understand that supporters are concerned for him and that there is widespread media interest in his condition. Tom is still undergoing tests and scans, and is awaiting the results before the next steps for his recovery are determined. We are unable to provide a running commentary on his situation, and request that all media please wait for any updates to be released via the club’s official channels when the time is right. We all want the very best for Tom, his partner Taylor and the whole Lockyer family, and politely ask that his and their privacy is respected at this difficult time.”

Alternatively, get my words on Liverpool and United from this morning’s paper.

Get in the mood with some pure Jonathan Wilson …

How will United line up? I will take a punt at … Onana, Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Shaw, Dalot, Mainoo, Amrabata, McTominay, Antony, Garnacho, Rashford.

I seem to remember this game being quite a momentous one last season. Can anyone remember the score? Oh yes, it was 7-0 to Liverpool. Things had looked so good for Erik ten Hag until that point but it really was a complete and utter humiliation that day for his not-so-brave boys. The previous weekend was a triumphant one as they lifted the League Cup but they still failed miserably against a Liverpool that would go on to finish fifth.

Coming into this fixture is a greater worry for Ten Hag with his side enjoying their season-long crisis. Their past two matches resulted in a 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth and being dumped out of the Champions League. They are are without their captain through suspension and have a lengthy injury list. The signs are not good.

The worse news for United is that table-toppers Liverpool are really good at football. Summer signings have settled quickly and proving Jurgen Klopp could have another tilt at the title. Liverpool have won every game at home this season and they will not be fearful of their opponents.

It should be an entertaining watch.

Kick-off: 4.30pm GMT