Man Utd and Liverpool should both score because of star strikers

The home side has won five of the last six meetings between Manchester United and Liverpool in all competitions by the odd goal. If that pattern continues, then prices of 9/1 for the Red Devils to emerge victorious 2-1 or 10/1 on 1-0 may whet your whistle.

Punters who are less sure what the score will be can back David Moyes’ men at 6/4 to win this and damage the Premier League title tilt of Brendan Rodgers (6/1 to lift the trophy).

An away victory for Liverpool, which would be their first at Old Trafford since 2009, is 19/10 and a draw is 12/5, but this latter outcome is hardly likely.

Just two of the last 27 top-flight clashes have ended with the spoils shared, so you must nail your colours to the mast on a decisive outcome to make money. Rodgers’ Reds are unbeaten in the Premier League away from home in 2014.

United, meanwhile, have struggled against their fellow top-seven sides and are yet to beat any of them under Moyes. He has steered his team to a paltry return of three league points (all draws) in these most difficult fixtures.

Yet, if there is one match that the Red Devils players can raise their game for, then it is surely this one. United handsomely beat hapless West Brom last time out to restore some confidence following the damaging Champions League last 16 first leg defeat at Olympiakos.

Rodgers’ Reds have netted seven times in their last two outings, but conceded three. Attack is their greatest strength, but defence is their biggest weakness. They have also lost at Man City, Chelsea and Arsenal, so odds on a United win and both teams to score is a tempting 10/3.

It is to these northwest rivals’ prestigious strike pairings that punters inevitably look to for goals in the scorer markets, but be careful who you put your money on. For the hosts, Wayne Rooney has averaged less than one in every four (4 in 21) in his career against Liverpool.

England talisman Rooney did bag a match-winning brace on his last run-out against this opposition, however. You can back him at 6/4 to net anytime or take odds of 8/1 on repeating the feat of scoring two or more here.

Robin van Persie, who has recently stated he wants to finish his career at the Red Devils to scotch rumours that he is looking to leave, has grabbed four in his last four starts against Liverpool. The Dutchman is thus a shorter price anytime at 11/8.