Liverpool will be looking to deny rivals Manchester United from completing a Premier League double this weekend, while Gary Neville has backed the Red Devils to make a key change
Luke Thrower Trends Writer
14:54, 29 Apr 2026
Manchester United Head Coach / Manager Michael Carrick applauds the fans at the end of the Premier League match between Manchester United and Brentford
Michael Carrick could make some changes when Liverpool takes on Manchester United(Image: (Photo by Richard Martin-Roberts - CameraSport via Getty Images))
Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has urged Michael Carrick to make a change to his starting lineup against Liverpool at the weekend by dropping Amad Diallo.
It comes as the Reds make the trip to Old Trafford with the hope of leapfrogging their rivals, as a win would put Arne Slot's team into third in the Premier League on goal difference.
The two sides are in similar form, with three wins, one draw, and one defeat in the last five for both, while Champions League qualification appears all but secure as well. In most games, that kind of setup could suggest a boring game, but it'll be anything but that in a clash between two old foes looking to do battle and earn bragging rights.
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Slot will be keen to stop Man United from doing the double over Liverpool, having won the earlier encounter 2-1 at Anfield in October 2025, with it being a decade since the Red Devils managed such a feat.
Options are slightly thin on the ground for Slot, largely due to injury, with very few ways for him to change the team for such a big clash. The same cannot be said of Man United, as Carrick has a few ways he can shuffle the team around at Old Trafford to get a positive result.
One of those changes suggested by Neville was to bring Matheus Cunha back into the mix, after his absence against Brentford, in place of Amad.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "If Cunha is fit, I think he will go with Cunha and Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes and Sesko. I think he’ll go with that four and I’m not sure Amad will play.
Matheus Cunha of Manchester United celebrates scoring their second goal with Amad Diallo oduring the Premier League match between Manchester United and Aston Villa
Matheus Cunha could replace Amad Diallo in the Manchester United team against Liverpool(Image: (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images))
"But I think you’ll see a more cautious, tighter more compact, more defensively focused Manchester United than you saw in that first half tonight. I don’t think he’ll start with five at the back, I think that would be wrong. He won’t do that, let’s be absolutely clear.
"But he will get them a lot more switched on defensively. He will be a lot more compact and tight and it will be a case of not making mistakes. Let’s go and make Liverpool nervous.
"I think Liverpool, likewise, will not want to be opened up. I think it could be more of a game of chess on Sunday. Not quite as much as it was in the second half against Brentford but I think it could be more of a struggle of a game where both managers are going to be quite cautious."
It would be a switch that demonstrates the strength in depth that Man United has built, with Carrick previously praising Amad as a "terrific footballer".
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Regardless of which players start in the frontline for the side, Liverpool will need to be aware of the greater goal threat United now possess.
As for Slot's own forward options, he is naturally hampered by the long-term injury to Hugo Ekitike, while Mohamed Salah is an injury doubt after he pulled up during the win over Crystal Palace.
That means one of Rio Ngumoha, Jeremie Frimpong, or Federico Chiesa could be called into action, in what will be an important game for all of them in paving their Liverpool futures.