Man United v Liverpool: Back Salah's shooting boots at Old Trafford

Manchester United v Liverpool: Back Salah's shooting boots at Old Trafford

Paul Higham is siding with Mo Salah's shooting boots as Liverpool chase the Champions League places at Old Trafford on Thursday...

Games coming thick and fast for Man Utd

This is the fourth fixture in a week but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made wholesale changes for Tuesday's defeat to Leicester, and barring Harry Maguire he'll be able to play his full-strength side against the old enemies.

It's worked out perfectly in the end, with Solskjaer more than justified in making changes for a Foxes victory that gave Liverpool an even tougher task to make the top four - and now United are at full-strength to try and deliver the double-whammy and effectively end the visitors' chances.

Despite the obvious fan unrest, and still continued questions over their manager, Man Utd are in a great position - second in the league, assured of Champions League football, strong favourites for the Europa League and are lording it well above the freshly deposed champions who are under all the pressure for this game.

Solskjaer has every reason to expect to be backed in the summer and there's plenty of promising signs for next season.

Struggling Reds still fighting for Champions League

It's been a crazy blur of a season for Liverpool, losing their title in such a manner is a huge disappointment, but if they can somehow salvage a top four place that will be something of an achievement given how far they'd fallen.

You'd have gotten spectacular odds on them losing nine games this season before the start, you'd have been laughed out of the bookies for backing six of those coming in consecutive games at Fortress Anfield!

Jurgen Klopp knows his side are pretty lucky to still have a fighting chance of making the Champions League, but they'll need a win at Old Trafford and help elsewhere along the way.

Win at Old Trafford is something Liverpool haven't done since March 2014 though - even with their recent dominance in the league the Reds have won just that one contest in their last 15 trips down the M62 (D4 L10).

Liverpool surprise favourites against Klopp's bogey team

The hope is we get a game a bit more like the 3-2 FA Cup tie in January than the usual tight, cagey affair we often have to sit through in this fixture, with three draws in the last four league games at Old Trafford.

The draw is 3.7 this time around and you'd never rule it out.

Liverpool being slight 2.4 favourites for the win is a bit of a surprise, given their record at Old Trafford, not to mention their form this season, but with five away wins in their last seven they do have solid road form in the book.

Man Utd are the value pick outright in the match odds at 2.8 though, as the game will shape-up like an away trip for them with Liverpool having plenty of the ball but looking ripe for being counter-attacked - something United do expertly.

Old Trafford is also the biggest bogey ground for Klopp - with six visits as manager without a win (D4 L2) it's the mosts he's ever managed at a ground without gaining victory in his career.

Salah's shots a good way to go

We kind of know what we'll get from this game - with Liverpool having plenty of the ball and Solskjaer most likely to try and frustrate them and play on the break in his side's preferred manner.

The absence of Maguire may force a rethink, or an early goal like in the FA Cup tie could potentially spark an end-to-end classic. We know all about Liverpool's defensive frailties but United's could be exposed without Maguire.

Chances are it'll be a cagey opening though - and the half-time draw at 2.2 is a decent starting point in trying to dissect this one.

Marcus Rashford has scored four in his last four games against Liverpool so 3.1 on him in the anytime scorer market looks a value play.

Mohamed Salah scored twice in the FA Cup game as part of his six shots and four on target in a busy display. He'll again lead the way for Liverpool and two shots on target at 2.7 looks another eye-catching price for something utterly achievable.

Salah has had two shots on target in five of his last seven games, and another similar display can see us cash in on Thursday.