The last time Manchester United celebrated a goal at Anfield Jose Mourinho was still in charge, nobody had heard of Coronavirus and Donald Trump was in his first term as president.

A little over six years after Jesse Lingard found the net in what turned out to be a 3-1 defeat for United, marking Mourinho's final game in charge, supporters who make the journey along the M62 on Sunday will not be holding out much hope of that barren spell being ended.

United will travel to Liverpool on a run of four successive defeats and three Premier League matches without a goal. They could not have wished for a worse time to be playing the league leaders.

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Liverpool have adjusted to life without Jurgen Klopp seamlessly, blossoming under the stewardship of Arne Slot. They have won 23 of their first 27 matches under the Dutchman, scoring 68 goals. It is hardly surprising some United fans are fearful of another 7-0 drubbing.

But when United visited Anfield just before Christmas in 2023, expected to be embarrassed again, they came away with a creditable 0-0 draw. A repeat of that result on Sunday would feel like a victory given how United have performed in recent weeks.

Regardless of the XI Ruben Amorim selects and the tactical approach he comes up with, Liverpool will be expected to find a way to secure maximum points. They have cut through teams at will in recent weeks, hitting Tottenham Hotspur for six and West Ham United for five. They have also beaten Real Madrid this term.

Amid United's current situation, Amorim would be within his rights, despite the obvious need for three points, to set his team up to try and stifle Slot's title hopefuls. The Portuguese chief will set up with his trademark three-at-the-back formation, but the wing-backs are likely to be doing far more defending than attacking.

Nevertheless, Amorim's refusal to abandon his principles - and rightfully so - mean that he will not go to Anfield just to make up the numbers. United need to pull a victory out of the bag from somewhere and getting it Anfield could be the catalyst they need to change their fortunes.

United, with the exception of the 2-1 win at Manchester City, have not been as prosperous with Amad being dragged out of the right wing-back role. He has started the last four league games as the right-sided No.10 and United have suffered as a result.

The Ivorian is far more effective as a wing-back. Not only is he better as an individual, him operating in that role gives United more balance.

Should Amad be restored to the right wing-back role at Anfield, a debate will be had about who starts in the No.10 positions. Bruno Fernandes will return from suspension and is a guaranteed starter, almost certainly in one of those two aforementioned positions, leaving the other role, likely on the other side of Rasmus Hojlund, up for grabs.

If United are to stand any chance of stopping Liverpool from playing and strutting their stuff, they are going to have to stifle them the best they can. That means Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte, who will also be available this weekend after serving a one-match ban against Newcastle United, should start as the central midfield paring.

After a nightmare opening half hour against Newcastle on Monday night, United improved when Kobbie Mainoo was brought on in place of Joshua Zirkzee. He created an opening shortly before half-time that Casemiro should have taken and United were more adventurous with the ball once he was on the field.

Despite being considered as a No.6 at the time of his breakthrough in November 2023, Mainoo has developed into a forward-thinking midfielder, who is keen to break the lines and use his athleticism. With that in mind, he could be considered as one of the two No.10s at Anfield, in the sense that he will be able to drop deeper when United do not have the ball and help Ugarte and Casemiro marshal the midfield.

Ugarte, despite United's collective struggles in recent weeks, has grown in stature, producing a cluster of improved performances, particularly in the first half at Wolves on Boxing Day and in the 4-3 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup a week earlier. He must start as the defensive shield, and Casemiro would be a suitable partner against an opponent so dangerous.

In an ideal world, United would like a midfield partnership of Mainoo and Ugarte to prosper, and there is hope that will be the case in the long run. However, the former might have to operate further forward at Anfield to accommodate Casemiro and give United's defence as much protection as possible.