Manchester United will be hoping to put the brakes on a four-game losing run when they make the trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.

United, who last sampled the taste of victory at Anfield in 2016, suffered a third successive Premier League defeat last time out, losing 2-0 to Newcastle United at Old Trafford. That defeat also marked a third successive game without a goal.

Having ended 2024 in such disastrous fashion, United will be itching to start 2025 with a bang. However, they are going up against a Liverpool side that is sitting pretty at the Premier League summit having won 14 of their first 18 league matches this season.

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Regarding the team news for the trip along the M62, United are set to be without Marcus Rashford because of illness. Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw will also be unavailable for selection.

Below, our United writers have had their say on how they would like to see head coach Ruben Amorim set his team up.

Samuel Luckhurst

As grim as United's situation is, United could play their strongest XI (whatever that is) today. It has been nearly 11 months since Shaw started for the club, so he is disregarded.

Leny Yoro has to come in as the backline needs some pace. Matthijs de Ligt or Harry Maguire is a toss of a coin. Lisandro Martinez should have come out of the team weeks ago but his tenacity could be key at Anfield. The central midfield picks itself and Amad has got to go back to the wing. Noussair Mazraoui would balance it out on the other side.

Alejandro Garnacho has not turned up for a few weeks but is the only credible '10' to go with Bruno Fernandes. Of Joshua Zirkzee, Rasmus Hojlund and Rashford, Rashford is the best-equipped to be pitted against Virgil van Dijk but is out. So it is Hojlund by default.

Tyrone Marshall

It feels like United need pace in that defence this weekend and Yoro is the most likely to provide it. Martinez's form remains patchy but he is the only left-sided option and United need left-footers. Maguire just gets the nod ahead of De Ligt.

The Mazraoui and Dalot combination isn't really working in an attacking sense, but at Anfield it's about being resilient and they can fill the wing-back positions. Ugarte is straight back in and Kobbie Mainoo's performance against Newcastle is enough to earn him a start.

Hojlund is now the only plausible option at centre-forward, which is a problem in itself. Amad has to play, as does Fernandes after his suspension.

George Smith

After starting on the bench against Newcastle, Yoro is worthy of a recall to add some speed to United's rearguard at the very least. Amorim needs to find some continuity in defence and De Ligt should be part of his strongest back-three, so should start in the middle.

Ugarte must be recalled to the centre of midfield to add some bite and Casemiro would be a suitable partner in a game United will need as much defensive steel as possible. Amad needs to be restored to the wing-back role, starting on the right, and it is a toss of a coin between Dalot and Mazraoui for who starts on the left.

Fernandes is a guaranteed starter after suspension, likewise Hojlund amid a lack of alternatives to lead the line. Mainoo was a bright spark off the bench against Newcastle and could be a starter as one of the No.10s, dropping deep to help Casemiro and Ugarte in the centre when United do not have the ball.