rewrite this title Liverpool vs Man Utd set to go ahead despite snow – latest updates

Arne Slot has claimed that the saga about Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future is helpful to him as it prevents his Liverpool players from being overloaded with praise that could make them complacent.

Real Madrid made an initial approach for the right-back this week, which Liverpool rebuffed before the Champions League holders could even make a bid.

But Alexander-Arnold, along with Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, is out of contract in the summer and could leave Anfield on a free transfer. The 26-year-old has been able to discuss a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs since New Year’s Day and Real have made no secret of their interest in him.

A reminder that Alexander-Arnold is now free to negotiate with other clubs as he has just six months left on his contract. Plenty of speculation surrounds the right-back, though another two key players are also in the middle of contract negotiations – Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk.

Like Alexander-Arnold, Salah’s situation is receiving plenty of attention due to his on-field exploits and the appearance that the contract is no closer to being agreed.

Van Dijk’s situation appears a lot more easy to resolve, with many reports circulating that it is only a matter of time before the Dutchman agrees a new deal.

Head coach Ruben Amorim, who said Amad Diallo is also close to agreeing an extended deal, said he was happy to tie Maguire down for another year but called on the centre back to be more of a leader.

Maguire joined United for £80m in 2019, a world-record fee for a defender, but was stripped of the captaincy by former manager Erik ten Hag in 2023. But he worked his way back into the team last season, and with Amorim preferring to play a back three, he has started each of their last three games.

Last season, United managed to scrape some decent results against their old rivals as the Jurgen Klopp era came to an end. A 2-2 draw in the league at Old Trafford came as Liverpool’s title challenge faded, but it was in the FA Cup where the Theatre of Dreams lived up to its name for home fans.

Klopp’s side travelled to Manchester as obvious favourites ahead of their FA Cup quarter-final tie in March, but United were ahead within 10 minutes thanks to Scott McTominay bundling in from close range.

From there though, the visitors dominated, with Alexis Mac Allister equalising and then Mo Salah giving them the lead before half-time. It looked like petering out into a simple win for Liverpool, before Antony struck in the 87th minute to force extra-time.

However, the Reds once again grabbed the lead through Harvey Elliott, before Marcus Rashford rifled in another equaliser and penalties loomed.

Nevertheless, there was time for one more twist in the tale, as United countered from a Liverpool corner and Garnacho laid it off to Amad Diallo, who squeezed in a shot across goal and past Kelleher to spark bedlam at Old Trafford.

It is understood that Saudi Arabian clubs were the first to act on this, with three of them making offers that would involve wages in excess of Rashford’s £315,000-a-week contract at United. The player has already turned these down, and has made it known he is unwilling to move to Turkey, as he desires a move that would help to win back his England place in time for the 2026 World Cup.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has revealed centre-back Joe Gomez is set to miss “a few weeks” after suffering an injury last time out – but also highlighted good news for the Premier League leaders on the fitness front with two other defenders set to return to full training.

The Reds sit top of the table and host out-of-form Manchester United on Sunday, with Slot facing something of a defensive problem with only five senior players available in the back line, two of which are left-backs.

Gomez had been partnering Virgil van Dijk in the middle of late, but a hamstring issue picked up against West Ham means he’ll miss at least a handful of fixtures this month.

As the odds suggest, it is difficult to see anything other than a convincing home win in this one. With Liverpool looking to extend their lead at the top and United looking incapable of keeping sides from scoring, it could get ugly for the visitors.

Liverpool 3-0 Manchester United.

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Diaz.

Man Utd XI: Onana; de Ligt, Maguire, Martinez; Mazraoui, Fernandes, Ugarte, Dalot; Diallo, Garnacho; Hojlund.

For United, there are no new injury concerns after the loss to Newcastle, with Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof and Mason Mount all remaining sidelined.

Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte will return from suspension, and they will likely move straight into midfield after the disaster at Old Trafford earlier in the week.

It remains to be seen whether Marcus Rashford will be in the squad or perhaps even in the starting eleven, though the poor performances of Joshua Zirkzee, Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho in recent weeks do suggest that Ruben Amorim needs to try something different.