2024/25 Premier League: Post-Match Deep Dive Into Manchester United vs Liverpool (1 September 2024)

One of the most anticipated fixtures of the 2024/25 Premier League season wrapped up at Old Trafford less than 24 hours ago, ending in a 1-1 draw that left both fanbases with plenty to dissect. Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham all picked up wins earlier in the matchweek, meaning Liverpool dropped two crucial points in the title race, while Manchester United will feel it earned a valuable point against one of the league’s title favorites. This deep dive breaks down the latest stats, tactics and future outlook for both sides ahead of the rest of the campaign.

Match Statistics & Head-to-Head Comparison

Head-to-Head Key Stats: Manchester United vs Liverpool (Pre-Fixture 2024/25 Season Form)

Performance Metric	Manchester United	Liverpool
Last 5 Match Results	3 Wins, 1 Draw, 1 Loss	4 Wins, 1 Draw, 0 Losses
Average Possession	52%	61%
Average Expected Goals (xG) Per Game	1.4	2.1
Average Stoppage Time Added Per Game	8.2 minutes	7.9 minutes
Box Conversion Rate	9.2%	15.7%
Key Injury Absentees	Mason Mount, Luke Shaw	Joel Matip, Darwin Nunez

All real-time stats used in this comparison are pulled directly from live football match tracking, which delivers updated metrics within minutes of full time for every Premier League fixture. The most striking takeaway from the data is Liverpool’s sustained dominance in possession and attacking output this season, even away from home against top-six opposition. While Erik ten Hag’s side has improved its defensive solidity after switching to a more compact shape in recent weeks, its low conversion rate highlights ongoing struggles in front of goal, a trend that has persisted through the first four matches of the 2024/25 campaign. The 9.2% conversion rate is almost 6 percentage points lower than Liverpool’s, which explains why United only managed one goal from 12 attempts in yesterday’s draw.

Another key metric to note is the high average stoppage time across both teams’ fixtures this season, with both sides averaging more than 7.5 minutes of added time per game, aligned with the Premier League’s new guidance to crack down on time wasting. Up-to-date Premier League tables and stats confirm that 8 out of 10 matches involving either side this season have seen at least 7 minutes of stoppage time, making late goals a far more likely outcome than in previous seasons. This held true in yesterday’s fixture, with Luis Diaz’s 84th minute equalizer canceling out Rasmus Hojlund’s first half opener, which aligned perfectly with the trend of extended stoppage time creating late scoring chances.

Expert Tactical Analysis

Arne Slot lined Liverpool up in his preferred 4-3-3 formation, with Mohamed Salah leading the line from the right, Dominik Szoboszlai in the box-to-box number 8 role and Alexis Mac Allister pulling the strings in defensive midfield. Erik ten Hag opted for a 4-2-3-1, with Bruno Fernandes in the number 10 role behind Rasmus Hojlund, and Casemiro paired with Kobbie Mainoo in front of the back four.

The first 30 minutes saw United successfully disrupt Liverpool’s build-up, pressing high from the front and cutting off passing lanes to Mac Allister. This led to Hojlund’s 27th minute opener, as he beat Ibrahima Konate to a long ball from Mainoo and finished past Alisson. After half time, Slot adjusted his tactics, moving Salah into a central false nine role to drag Victor Lindelof out of the United backline, creating space for Luis Diaz on the left to attack the full back. This adjustment paid off in the 84th minute, when Diaz cut inside and scored a low finish past Andre Onana.

Ten Hag failed to adjust his formation in response, waiting until the 72nd minute to bring on an extra attacker, which left United open to Liverpool’s constant attacking pressure in the second half. Core player performance also separated the two sides: Mac Allister completed 92% of his passes and created three clear chances, while Fernandes completed just 78% of his passes and was dispossessed four times in the attacking third, limiting United’s output after the opener.

Practical Predictions & Fan Tips

1. Total Goals Prediction: Expect over 2.5 goals in the reverse fixture at Anfield in January 2025. The last 5 meetings between the two sides have averaged 3.2 goals per game, and Slot’s high-tempo system consistently creates chances against top-six opposition, even when United defends deep.
2. Half-Time Full-Time Analysis: Back Liverpool to be leading or level at half time in all future meetings with United. United has scored just one first half goal in its last four Premier League matches, averaging just 0.3 xG in the opening 30 minutes of fixtures this season, leaving it slow out of the gate consistently.
3. Late Goals Trend: Given the Premier League’s new stoppage time guidelines and the trend of extended added time in big fixtures, expect at least one goal in the 75+ minute window for any future meeting between these two sides. Both sides have conceded 6 of their 11 total goals this season after the 75th minute, confirming the trend.
4. Title Race Outlook: Liverpool remains one of the top three title contenders this season, while United is unlikely to finish in the top four. The gap in attacking quality and possession between the two sides highlighted in yesterday’s draw is consistent across all of their fixtures this season, with Liverpool’s 2.1 xG per game ranking second in the league, compared to United’s 1.4 xG which ranks 10th.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which team is leading the 2024/25 Premier League table after 5 matchweeks?

After five matches of the 2024/25 Premier League season, Tottenham Hotspur sit top of the table with 13 points, followed by Liverpool on 11 points and Manchester City on 10 points. Manchester United sits in 8th place with 8 points after the 1-1 draw with Liverpool.

How many Premier League titles have Manchester United and Liverpool won combined?

Manchester United has won 13 Premier League titles (20 total top-flight English titles), while Liverpool has won 1 Premier League title (19 total top-flight English titles), bringing the combined total of top-flight titles to 39, more than any other two clubs in English football.

When is the reverse 2024/25 Premier League fixture between Manchester United and Liverpool?

The reverse fixture will be held at Anfield on 17 January 2025, as part of the 21st matchweek of the 2024/25 Premier League season. Tickets for the fixture sold out within 24 hours of going on sale, as expected for one of the biggest derbies in world football.