Equipped with his new, more aerodynamic hairstyle, Mohamed Salah has exploded out of the blocks this term, netting twice in as many games while hitting an average of 2.62 shots per 90 minutes of Premier League action.

The Egyptian’s record in fixtures between Man Utd and Liverpool is nothing short of phenomenal and the veteran winger looks sharp enough to make another telling impact against the Reds’ biggest rivals on Sunday.

Salah had at least two shots on target in each of his three appearances against United last term, two of which were at Old Trafford. The Theatre of Dreams continues to be the happiest of hunting grounds for the 32-year-old, so expect him to put his wand of a left foot to good use again.

Meetings between Man Utd and Liverpool can be notoriously ill-tempered and that was certainly the case last season when a mammoth 21 cards were brandished across the rivals’ three meetings in the Premier League and FA Cup.

In April’s 2-2 draw between the northwest neighbours at Old Trafford, seven players were carded by busy match official Anthony Taylor in a fixture that featured a shin-splintering 47 tackles and 19 fouls.

Sunday’s rematch is likely to be played with a similar edge and with Taylor returning to take charge again, a target of over 3.5 cards should be reached with relative comfort.

Dutchman Ryan Gravenberch has been a midfield mainstay for Liverpool so far this season under his compatriot Arne Slot and the former Ajax youngers has been industrious and combative in equal measure, making 3.00 tackles and committing 3.50 fouls per 90 so far.

Indeed, the 22-year-old has racked up more fouls (seven) than any of his teammates in the Premier League so far and Gravenberch committed five in one sitting in Liverpool’s first away test at Ipswich on August 17th.

In the heat of Sunday’s derby, Gravenberch is unlikely to temper the ferocity of his challenges, so look for the midfielder to commit at least one foul again.

Liverpool were keen tactical foulers under Jurgen Klopp last season, committing the third-most fouls per 90 (12.20) in the Premier League and the early evidence this term suggests that they will be just as cynical this time around.

Despite controlling 60%+ possession in both games, Liverpool won the foul count in their wins over Ipswich and Brentford on matchdays one and two, committing 18 and 10 fouls respectively in their victories.

It’s logical to expect the Reds to reach double figures in that department again at Old Trafford. Liverpool committed a minimum of ten fouls in each of their three meetings with United in 2023/24 and that trend should continue on Sunday.

No player sets knees knocking in the Manchester United defence like Mohamed Salah. The Liverpool legend has scored more goals against the Red Devils than any other player in Premier League history and he could add to that 11-goal haul on Sunday.

Old Trafford has been like a second home for the Egyptian since 2017 and Salah has plundered an incredible eight goals at the Theatre of Dreams in all competitions during his Liverpool career.

Salah, who notched in each of his first two Premier League appearances of the new campaign against Ipswich and Brentford, found the net on each of his two visits to Old Trafford last season and he is your trump card in the anytime scorer market again here.

Just like he did last season, Alexis Mac Allister has been putting his powers of disruption to good use for Liverpool this season and the World Cup-winning midfielder has been committing 2.00 fouls per 90 minutes since the summer.

Mac Allister ranked near the summit at Liverpool for average fouls committed per 90 minutes in 2023/24 (1.83) and the 25-year-old’s tackling is certain to be just as sharp at Old Trafford on Sunday.

The ex-Brighton star was involved in two fixtures against United last season and he gave away two free kicks in each encounter. Mac Allister is excellent value in the 2+ fouls bracket again here.

Kobbie Mainoo has been leading the charge in midfield for United this season and the ground-duel specialist averaged a sizable 2.63 tackles and 5.26 interceptions per 90 minutes in his first two Premier League appearances of the campaign.

The 19-year-old has been right at the heart of the skirmish, committing 2.63 fouls and drawing a massive 3.65 fouls from his opponents on average, and Mainoo should be in the thick of the action again on Sunday.

All three of the Liverpool midfielders the teenager is likely to face at Old Trafford have been throwing their weight around this term (Gravenberch – 3.50, Mac Allister – 2.00 and Szoboszlai – 1.50), making Mainoo an excellent candidate to draw two or more fouls again.

Liverpool failed to beat United in any of the clubs’ three meetings in 2023/24, though the Reds were pounding down the door on each occasion and mustered an eye-watering 86 attempts at goal across the team’ trio of encounters.

The visitors landed 17 shots on target combined during their trips to play United in the FA Cup and Premier League back in March and April, and Liverpool’s potent frontline of Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz are likely to offer similar levels of threat at the same venue on Sunday.

Liverpool have been averaging 6.50 shots on target per 90 in the campaign’s opening exchanges, while no club has posted higher xGF (5.10) or shots per 90 (18.50) figures than the razor-sharp Reds. Expect the Merseysiders to manufacture another glut of clear-cut chances on Sunday.