Premier League Game of the Week: Liverpool and Man United carry the burden of history

And then there’s Man United. Honestly, what more can be said? The team has been on a "one step forward, two steps back" trajectory for weeks, with confidence-building wins against teams like Chelsea fading into depressing defeats to Bournemouth and Bayern Munich. Where Liverpool’s midfield has excelled, United’s midfield has disappointed, with signings like Mason Mount and Sofyan Amrabat failing to live up to their lofty expectations. But the worst thing about Man United is the mood. Everyone — the fans, the players, the coach, the executives — seems absolutely miserable to be associated with one another. If you grew up watching the Man United juggernaut of the 90s and 00s, you know how confusing this mood is. Man United wasn’t always victorious, but back when it was led by coach Sir Alex Ferguson, it never, ever gave up on itself. Today’s Man United often appears to have given up before a ball has been kicked.

Two teams, then, close in proximity but far apart in trajectory. What kind of drama can they stir up? Here’s what we’re keeping an eye out for:

United goals — Man United has a woeful record at Anfield in recent years — it’s failed to score in its four most recent visits. (It also conceded a whopping seven in one of those, but unless you’re a Liverpool fan, chances are good that you already forgot that happened.) With that in mind, betting on a Liverpool win without any Man United goals feels like a decent option at +162. History backs that bet up nicely.

If you are going to bet on United scoring, though, you shouldn’t look any further than Scott McTominay. The Scottish midfielder has had something of a renaissance this year and often appears to be the only United player trying to find the back of the net. Odds have him at +650 to score in this one — great odds for a player who knows how to turn up in the big moments.

Halftime / Full Time result — Liverpool has a frustrating habit of scoring its winners and equalizers in the final minutes of the match. In its four most recent Premier League matches — wins against Crystal Palace, Sheffield and Fulham and a draw with Man City — Liverpool scored its crucial goal on or after the 80^th minute in all of them.

For bettors who feel confident that Liverpool will win but still want a decent payout on that result, looking at the half time versus full time result could be an interesting option here. If Liverpool is likely to score late, it’s not necessarily going to be ahead once the halftime whistle blows. Betting on a draw at halftime and a Liverpool win at full time looks like a great choice at +333.

Cards — The Liverpool-Man United rivalry is fierce enough to guarantee some on-the-field fireworks. But who is likely to cross the line and get a yellow card? We’ve got our eyes on two notoriously emotional players, one known for his petulance, the other for his passion.

For petulance, Antony is a prime candidate for a booking. The Brazilian winger is easily flustered and Liverpool’s midfield will delight in riling him up. At +260, he’s worth a shout.

For passion, we’re looking at Darwin Nunez. The Uruguayan plays with his entire heart on his sleeve and we adore him for it, but it often leads to trouble in big games like this one. (Frankly, we could see him snapping the aforementioned Antony like a twig if he causes him any trouble.) He’s a slightly longer shot at +300.