It was a nightmare before, and after, Christmas for Manchester United and their new boss Ruben Amorim, but their hopes of starting 2025 off on the right foot are severely hampered by a daunting trip to Anfield for their first fixture of the year.

Premier League leaders Liverpool head into the weekend six points clear at the summit, and it would take something miraculous for them not to go on and win the title from here.

United, their arch-rivals, would of course want to have something to say about that in an ideal world, but the Red Devils are floundering down in 14th place after Monday's 2-0 home loss to Newcastle United.

Using the best Opta facts, we preview Sunday's headline Premier League contest.

What's expected? 

The Opta supercomputer is firmly backing Liverpool, who have a whopping 70.2% chance of victory heading into this game.

United, on the other hand, came out on top in only 13% of the Opta supercomputer's data-led simulations, while the likelihood of a draw is 16.8%.

Given Liverpool's recent dominance of this fixture, it is hardly surprising that the model is forecasting a Reds win.

United have scored just one goal in their last eight Premier League away games against Liverpool, failing to score in each of the last five. Only at Everton have they had a longer run without scoring in their league history (six between 1969 and 1974).

The Red Devils have not won any of their last eight league away games against Liverpool (D4 L4), their longest such run since a run of nine between 1970 and 1979.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have lost just one of their last 13 Premier League games against United (W7 D5), going down 2-1 at Old Trafford in August 2022.

Following the Reds' 3-0 win at Old Trafford in the reverse fixture in September, Arne Slot could become just the second Liverpool boss to do the league double over United in his first season with the club, after George Kay in 1936-37, and if the form guide is anything to go by, then you would expect that to be the case.

Salah-led Reds rampaging to glory?

It has been quite the season so far for Liverpool, and their talisman Mohamed Salah.

Despite the uncertainty over his future, Salah is arguably in the form of his career. He had a hand in 39 Premier League goals across 2024, scoring 23 and assisting 16. In a calendar year, only Salah himself has registered more goal involvements in the history of the competition (2018 - 28 goals, 12 assists).

Only Trent Alexander-Arnold, meanwhile, has provided more Premier League assists (17 in 2019) for Liverpool in a calendar year than Salah's 16 in 2024.

Salah has been involved in 30 Premier League goals this season (17 goals, 13 assists), scoring and assisting in eight different games, already the most by a player in a single campaign ever. It is the fifth time he has had 30+ goal involvements in a season (also 2017-18, 2018-19, 2021-22 and 2022-23), the joint most of any player in Premier League history along with Alan Shearer.

It is not just Salah that is shining for Liverpool. Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo are on top form, with Diogo Jota also scoring in the 5-0 win over West Ham last time out. Alexander-Arnold has made headlines this week amid speculation of an impending move to Real Madrid, but he is another player thriving in Slot's machine.

Liverpool scored the most goals in the Premier League in 2024 (92) - it is their second-most in a year in the top flight, behind the 106 goals they netted in 1982. The Reds also had 286 shots on target, the joint most by a team in a year, alongside Manchester City in 2021, since Opta began recording such data in 2004.

The Reds come into this having won their last three Premier League matches, scoring at least three goals in each victory.

They last had a longer winning run while scoring three or more goals in each win in February/March 2014 (six in a row). Their six league matches last month saw them score 21 times, three more than any other team in the competition.

Things can only get better... Can't they?

Amorim said he wanted to "shock" his United players by mentioning they could be in a relegation battle if they are not careful. 

In Premier League history, four teams who were 14th at the turn of the year have then been relegated - Newcastle (2008-09), Burnley (2009-10), Norwich City (2013-14) and Leeds United (2022-23).

United lost six matches in all competitions last month. That is the most games they have lost in a single month since they suffered seven defeats way back in September 1930.

The Red Devils have lost their last three Premier League games. They have not lost four league games in a row in the same season since between December and February 1979, while they last suffered four defeats in a row without scoring back in April 1909.

United must tighten up at the back if they are to get anything out of this one. They shipped 18 goals in all competitions in December, their most in a single month since March 1964 (18).

One possible good omen for United is that Liverpool - who beat Newcastle 4-2 in their first outing of 2024 - have not won their opening league game in consecutive years since doing so in 2013 and 2014.

Despite Amorim's warnings, the Opta supercomputer is predicting United will at least secure mid-table mediocrity and avoid a relegation tussle. They have just a 0.1% chance of going down as it stands.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Liverpool - Mohamed Salah

Salah has both scored more goals (12) and provided more assists (six) against United than any other player in Premier League history.

He contributed to 14 Premier League goals last month, more than any other player in the competition.

Manchester United - Bruno Fernandes

United were without their captain Fernandes for their loss to Newcastle, as the Portugal international served his suspension following his dismissal at Wolves.

The Red Devils have failed to score a single goal in any of the last four Premier League matches that Fernandes has not featured in for them.