Charlie Nicholas believes Manchester United will turn up and make it a fight of it when they face Liverpool at Old Trafford this afternoon. The Reds are riding high at the top of the table, and the Sky Sports pundit thinks denting the Merseyside club’s Premier League title ambitions could offer the home side extra motivation:

“I think because of the desire from Man Utd, an average team at the moment, and given the chance to turn it on and knock Liverpool’s chances of winning the league, they may well do that.”

Nicholas has gone for a 1-1 draw, which is a result that would disappoint most Liverpool fans but it wouldn’t be the end of the world. The Reds have won just once in thirteen trips to Manchester and while they are heavy favourites to win, derbies don’t generally go with the form book.

United will not play an expansive game, according to Nicholas, and they will look to defend deep in order to secure at least a point and end Liverpool’s 17 game winning streak. Whether they will take such a negative approach, we shall have to wait and see.