MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Sunday, December 14, 2014: Liverpool's Raheem Sterling in action against Manchester United during the Premier League match at Old Trafford. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Liverpool vs. Man Utd (Sunday, 1.30pm): Reds look to oust Utd from top four

Liverpool have the chance to leapfrog arch rivals Manchester United into fourth place when the two sides meet in a mouthwatering encounter in the Premier League at Anfield this Sunday.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Sunday, December 14, 2014: Liverpool's Adam Lallana is fouled by Manchester United's Guillermo Varela during the Premier League match at Old Trafford. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)2015_03_11_600x150

Liverpool vs. Manchester United
Sunday, 22nd March 2015; 1.30pm kick-off
Premier League
Anfield

Going into the weekend’s fixtures, Brendan Rodgers’ side sit fifth in the table — just one point behind United, three points off third placed Arsenal and four points off second placed Man City, setting up a crucial clash for both sides.

Liverpool will be looking to avenge a 3-0 defeat at the hands of United in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford in December.

That was Liverpool’s last league defeat and the form book would suggest the hosts are favourites this Sunday — with 10 victories and three draws in their last 13 games, scoring 24 and conceding just eight.

If Liverpool can avoid losing, they will match Chelsea‘s current season record of 14 games undefeated.

However, Man Utd’s league form isn’t far behind, with just five defeats all season and off the back of a three-game winning streak. Sunderland, Newcastle Utd and Tottenham were their victims.

[statsfc-score-predictor key=2dCG2IPndnJBm4GL141AFJQnx7Wsl6gT3JGGW02u team=Liverpool default_css=true]

Despite Liverpool’s recent good fortunes, goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has urged his teammates to stay focussed ahead of Sunday’s encounter and the race to finish the campaign in the top four.

“We have to focus on our jobs, we can’t get carried away, and as a game it is three points to win or to lose,” he is quoted in the Mirror as saying.

“If we are going to make more of it than it is we might get flustered or carried away with things so we have to address it in a professional manner and make sure we focus on our job rather than what the opponent does or how big a game it is.”

Liverpool could welcome back Steven Gerrard to the starting XI after he returned from injury as a substitute in Monday night’s 1-0 win at Swansea.

Lucas Leiva returned to training this week but looks set to miss Sunday’s clash, whilst Jordon Ibe is also sidelined.

Mario Balotelli returns to the matchday squad after illness.

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