PREM: Man Utd v Liverpool preview

Man Utd v Liverpool preview

Manchester United hope to have Zlatan Ibrahimovic available when they host Liverpool.

The striker missed the 2-0 EFL Cup semi-final first-leg win over Hull on Tuesday due to illness, and will be assessed before the match at Old Trafford.

Even without Ibrahimovic in midweek, United extended their winning run in all competitions to nine games as goals from Juan Mata and Marouane Fellaini secured victory.

“We don’t just have the good performances, we have the happiness of the good results,” said manager Jose Mourinho. “It's one more big match - let's enjoy it.”

United start the weekend sixth in the Premier League but a win would see them move just two points behind second-placed Liverpool.

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Jurgen Klopp's side have not won in three matches in all competitions and have failed to score in their last two.They were held to a goalless draw at home by Plymouth in the FA Cup and then beaten 1-0 by Southampton in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final.

Liverpool boss Klopp says United are "better" than they were earlier in the season when a defensive display led to a stalemate at Anfield.

“They are more used to each other," he said. “To use only one example, but I think Henrikh Mkhitaryan is an important example, it took a little bit of time – that’s normal. Now they can use his outstanding quality.

“[They are] more confident. It’s a different side, if you want. There was no doubt about the quality of the players when they played here. But it was not that tuned, maybe. [Now], it is. So that’s a different thing.”

Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo could be available for the hosts after missing the match against Hull with illness and a muscle strain respectively.

Eric Bailly is away on Ivory Coast duty at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Luke Shaw is pushing for a recall after returning to training this week.

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson and defender Joel Matip are back in training and could be in contention.

Henderson has missed the last three matches with a heel problem while Matip has been sidelined for a month with an ankle injury.

Playmaker Philippe Coutinho could be in line to start after making a 30-minute comeback appearance against Southampton in midweek after ankle ligament damage, while Simon Mignolet will return in goal.