But this Sunday’s Anfield showdown has taken on added importance following Liverpool’s recent wobble and United’s poor start to the campaign.

With Arne Slot and Ruben Amorim both desperate for victory,  DAZN News sets the scene and assesses who needs a result the most.

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What kind of form are both sides in?

Liverpool head into this weekend's north-west derby on the back of a three-match losing streak.

They have suffered 2-1 defeats away to Crystal Palace and Chelsea in the Premier League either side of a 1-0 reverse at Galatasaray in the Champions League.

Significantly, however, Slot's side had won three on the spin at Anfield prior to their recent dip and they will hope to make themselves at home again this weekend.

The visit of United will be their first Premier League game at Anfield since beating Everton 2-1 in the Merserside derby on September 20.

Worryingly for Amorim, United make the short trip along the M62 having yet to win away from home this season.

Their three wins have all come at Old Trafford and on the road they have picked up just one point from three games.

Encouragingly, perhaps, is the fact that United have won three of their last five Premier League outings, so their overall form is generally decent.

One of their better Premier League displays under Amorim saw the Red Devils draw 2-2 at Anfield in January. Can they produce a repeat performance?

@manchesterunited

Assessing the pressure on Slot and Amorim

There is no suggestion that Slot;s position as Liverpool manager is coming under any kind of real scrutiny. Certainly not yet, anyway.

But the Dutchman, after presiding over three straight defeats, needs to stop the rot at some point.

Sunday's visit of his club's fiercest rivals would be the perfect time.

Slot won the Premier League in his first season in charge last term and has huge credit in the bank with supporters and the club's hierarchy.

Nevertheless, he could do with a win this weekend to ease nerves amongst the fanbase following Liverpool's recent blip.

Amorim, meanwhile, has seen his position questioned for some time now.

United's form has generally been shambolic since the Portuguese took the reins but Sir Jim Ratcliffe recently gave him his backing , suggesting the board will afford Amorim time to turn things around.

With this fixture meaning so much to both clubs, though, the outcome could dictate the mood of both fanbases and that will not be lost on either manager.

@liverpoolfc

Any early team news heading into Sunday's showdown?

Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate was forced to withdraw from international duty with France due to injury concerns.

The centre-back had to leave the pitch during the Reds' last Premier League match against Chelsea with a thigh injury. 

Conjecture surrounds whether he will be fit enough to play against United this weekend.

Goalkeeper Allison Becker, meanwhile, suffered another hamstring injury at Galatasaray and is not expected to be available until after the November international break.

Promising young United defender Ayden Heaven, meanwhile, picked up a knock while on international duty with England’s Under-20 team — giving Amorim another concern ahead of the high-stakes trip to Anfield.

The 19-year-old went down early in England’s friendly defeat to Switzerland at St. George’s Park on Friday and needed medical attention before playing out the first half.

He was replaced at half-time, with coach Ben Futcher confirming afterward that the player “picked something up.”

Analysis - which manager needs a result the most?

This match-up between two giants of English football always demands that both sides go for the win given the stature of the clubs and the demands from the respective fanbases.

Given Liverpool's recent wobble, a fourth straight loss - especially at the hands of their fiercest rivals - is simply unthinkable.

Amorim being given a vote of confidence, of sorts, by Ratclliffe suggests he will be given time to fashion United into a respected force again.

With that in mind, it is hard to avoid the feeling that a draw would not be unacceptable to Liverpool and United as both sides look to make - and take - a point from this most famous of fixtures.

That would certainly suit United more but there can be no denying the onus is on Slot to conjure a return to winning ways given Liverpool's home advantage.

Failure to do so would raise more question marks over the Reds' ability to defend their title.

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