Liverpool versus Manchester United LIVE: North West rivals in action in Premier League

Liverpool's seventh corner of the game is whipped in by Alexander-Arnold. Van Dijk connects firmly from ten yards out, but it's straight at Onana who palms it over.

He catches Endo after the ball has gone, and Oliver takes his name.

United are trying to play out from the back through Onana at all costs. It's not really sticking beyond three or four passes though, a sign of their low confidence.

Antony and Tsimikas briefly go nose-to-nose after a battle to keep the ball in play. They're all handshakes soon after though, and on we go.

Nunez charges into Evans, with no attempt to play the ball, and is booked.

Liverpool are cranking into gear now. Diaz beats a couple near the D and feeds Salah in the area, who cuts back inside and shoots. Shaw gets a good block on it, and United clear.

Alexander-Arnold stands a lovely cross up to Diaz at the back post. He heads it across goal, Onana can't collect but manages to block the ball behind as it falls to Salah on the half-volley.

It looks like United are trying to force one on one situations between Antony and Tsimikas. It's very tight out there though, with precious little time on the ball for anyone.

United work a nice move across the face of the Liverpool area. Garnacho tries to cut back inside and send one to the far corner, but balloons it high and wide.

The pace has dulled a little as a few free kicks break up Liverpool's early rhythm. United appear to have settled a little now.

Liverpool are swarming around United's makeshift back four when they try to play out via Onana. United do get out briefly, and Amrabat finds Antony with a long pass, but his attempt to cut in and shoot from range is blocked.

Salah hits a volley-cum-cross to the back post, which is just too far ahead of the sliding Nunez.

Evans cuts out a dangerous low cross from Szoboszlai and puts it behind. Liverpool win another corner immediately, and they are all over United so far.

United concede a corner and then a free kick just outside the area in the opening 60 seconds. It's a nervy start from them, and they scramble away Tsimikas's free kick after it pinballs dangerously in the six yard box.

Here we go, we're underway at Anfield.

The teams are tunnel ready, and here they come. Anfield is absolutely heaving and atmospheric this afternoon.

Fancy a little pre-Christmas clash between two Uniteds? Well there's the West Ham and Manchester versions in action for you on the 23rd December, details below.

Almost there now. Your referee for the high jinks today will be Michael Oliver.

In my humble etc two real points of interest are Salah going up against the recently injured Shaw down the right, while Endo will match up with McTominay, who looks to be the one United midfielder with either licence or ability to bomb on this afternoon. I think the benches might play a big part here too if it gets tight in the second half; Gakpo is lurking on the Liverpool bench, while a semi-fit Rashford with a lot to prove is there for United.

Bless this mess. Erik Ten Hag’s tenure at United has been the opposite of a curate’s egg; broadly good, but some parts have been very, very bad. The latter is a stretch that they’re in right now. After a November where Ten Hag, Harry Maguire and Alejandro Garnacho picked up the Premier League awards for manager, player and goal of the month, they turned in two feeble performances in defeat to Newcastle and Bournemouth and were flicked out of the Champions League by a Bayern Munich in second gear. There’s still no clarity over the INEOS takeover, and key players are absent today through injury and suspension. It’s not a tailspin just yet, but a humbling here could turn the current run into one that’s irreversible.

With both Arsenal and Aston Villa winning this afternoon, Liverpool currently sit third in the table but can return to the summit with a win here. Jurgen Klopp’s relaunch of Liverpool’s midfield has sent them on an upward trajectory, and they look like they could be serious title contenders once more. Personally, I think squad depth might undo them this season, with injuries and international tournaments causing disruption and the likelihood of a long run in the Europa League keeping them on that awkward Thursday-Sunday treadmill. No one’s running away with this season yet though, and they’re far from the only contender with problems to overcome.