BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton did not hold back with his ruthless prediction for Manchester United’s upcoming showdown with Premier League rivals Liverpool.
Manchester United travel to Anfield on Sunday for their first match of 2025, with kick-off for the Premier League clash slated for 4:30pm UK time.
The Red Devils have been in an awful run of form under Ruben Amorim in recent weeks and United have lost their last four matches across all competitions.
Ruben Amorim’s men are winless since their 2-1 Premier League comeback victory over crosstown rivals Manchester City at the Etihad in December 2024.
United slipped to their third consecutive Premier League loss on Monday evening after a 2-0 win for Newcastle at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils are precariously positioned in 14th place in the Premier League table and Amorim’s side are only seven points above the relegation zone.
Sutton on Liverpool and Man Utd rivalry
Manchester United’s top-four hopes under Ruben Amorim are all but over after their dreadful 2024-25 Premier League campaign.
The Red Devils have managed only six Premier League wins in 19 matches and United are 13 points adrift from fourth-place Chelsea in the table.
Liverpool, on the other hand, are on cloud nine under Arne Slot and are leading the Premier League title race this season amid Manchester City’s poor run of form.
Arne Slot arrived at Anfield in the summer and replaced Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager ahead of the 2024-25 Premier League campaign.
Liverpool have only suffered one league defeat in 18 matches and the Premier League leaders are six points clear of Arsenal with a match in hand.
Chris Sutton insisted that the forthcoming contest between Liverpool and United is “not even close at the moment” amid their different positions this season.
“The historic rivalry between these two clubs is intense but, on the pitch, the contest is not even close at the moment,” he said in his BBC Sport column.
“Manchester United boss Amorim is talking about being in a relegation battle and you can see why.
“His side were torn apart in the first 30 minutes by Newcastle at Old Trafford on Monday, and why would anything be different at Anfield?
“Whoever Liverpool pick, they have got goals in their team and United have no chance of keeping them out.”
Sutton makes Liverpool vs Man Utd prediction
Liverpool will welcome United to Anfield after their stunning 5-0 demolition of West Ham in the Premier League clash at the London Stadium last weekend.
Sutton has argued that the Reds are in a “different stratosphere” and he has backed Arne Slot’s men to pump United 5-0 at Anfield on the weekend.
“The scoreline won’t hit double figures but anything else is possible, and that is me being nice to United,” he continued.
“Liverpool should demolish them, and they will demolish them – it is just a question of how many goals they get.
“United will play for pride, play for the badge and for the jersey, and all of that, but it won’t make any difference.
“Liverpool are in a different stratosphere at the moment and I feel sorry for Amorim because this is going to be another painful afternoon for him.”
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