Manchester United supporters have wondered how many they will lose by at Anfield three times this decade alone.

In January 2020, it was only two but it was double that in April 2022. United creditably defied expectations last season to hold Liverpool to a goalless draw.

When United performed decently for a half at Anfield under Erik ten Hag, they were battered 7-0 and that result signalled a gradual and neverending decline under the Dutchman.

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United are winless in nine at Liverpool and last won on the red side of Stanley Park in January 2016. Nine games, four draws, five defeats, one goal scored and 18 conceded.

Liverpool away is the one fixture that this United, on a losing streak of four games and beaten in five of their last six in the Premier League, would not want. The coach journey to Anfield on Sunday afternoon may feel like a walk to the gallows.

As Ben Affleck says in Argo, there are only bad options. Ruben Amorim must find the best bad idea to get a result.

Spoiler alert: the Argo operation was a success.

Two in and two out

Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes are certain starters following their one-match suspensions and it is just as well as Christian Eriksen and Casemiro cannot cope against Newcastle, never mind Liverpool.

Most expected Newcastle to win on Monday night. When the teamsheets were published, everyone knew they would win. Eriksen-Casemiro provided short-term gain in Ten Hag's first season but that axis has seldom served United well since.

Mainoo mania?

The daftest decision by Amorim yet as United head coach was to drop Mainoo against Newcastle. The 19-year-old has been out of form but he represents United's present and future whereas Eriksen is the past.

Mainoo was excellent in the stalemate at Anfield last season and in United's enthralling FA Cup quarter-final victory before his elegant curler against Liverpool in the league. Mainoo and Ugarte have only started four times together and in a month where United have free midweeks they have to line up in all five domestic matches.

Relocate Amad

Amorim has got to stop playing Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot as wingers. They are full backs with limited attacking pedigree yet are expected to service strikers who struggle to score. United have not scored from open play with Mazraoui and Dalot on the flanks.

"Sometimes it’s for the team to be more compact," Amorim replied when Gary Neville asked why full backs are playing as wingers. "Also for set pieces and to try to use different things.

"We won against City in this way, I think we have more possession, we have to control the games better. I think Amad in that position, he could be an option but in this moment with the type of players we have, we need a left footer on that position in front."

Mazraoui had dropped back to centre half when United got their goals at City, admittedly through Amad's positioning high up the pitch. But it is for the team's benefit that Amad returns to the wing.

Yes to Yoro

Ralf Rangnick switched to a defensive trident when United played at Anfield in one of his last matches as interim manager. United went 1-0 down in the fifth minute and Phil Jones was hooked at half-time.

The back three that night was Jones, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof. Zero pace. United's back three against Newcastle was similarly slow. Leny Yoro, the club's most expensive recruit in the summer, would be thrown in at the deep end but United need a quick defender to pit against Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz.

Wild card pick?

Marcus Rashford was omitted from four matchday squads running and when he was recalled Antony came on ahead of him while Rashford was unused. Rashford's future lies elsewhere but Liverpool are effectively the champions-elect with their three biggest players out of contract in the summer. Trent Alexander-Arnold seems bound for Madrid. Alexander-Arnold, Salah and Virgil van Dijk will start against United.

Amorim's body language and interactions with Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee confirm he does not believe in either of them. His treatment of Rashford has been stricter but Rashford has been a matchwinner against Liverpool on two occasions and only scored more goals against Leicester.

Of Rashford, Hojlund and Zirkzee, Rashford is the one you would want to test Van Dijk.