• Liverpool have yet to lead after drawing their opening two games against Fulham and Crystal Palace, while Jurgen Klopp has had to contend with injuries and a red card for new £64m signing Darwin Nunez.
• United have lost their opening two matches under Erik ten Hag, including a humiliating 4-0 defeat at Brentford.
Image: FILE
Manchester United and Liverpool are two of England's most successful clubs after being crowned league champions 39 times between them.
But when the fierce rivals meet at Old Trafford on Monday evening, both will be searching for a first win after underwhelming starts to the season.
Liverpool have yet to lead after drawing their opening two games against Fulham and Crystal Palace, while Jurgen Klopp has had to contend with injuries and a red card for new £64m signing Darwin Nunez.
United have lost their opening two matches under Erik ten Hag, including a humiliating 4-0 defeat at Brentford.
Having lost their last two matches of 2021-22 under interim manager Ralf Rangnick, United are looking to avoid a fifth straight league defeat for the first time since a run of seven between January and March 1972.
With disgruntled United fans planning a fresh protest against the "failing ownership" of the Glazers before kick-off, it promises to be a lively night both on and off the pitch.
While it is important to recognise the season is still in its infancy, Liverpool need a win after dropping four points from two games.
They will have to get it without Nunez, who is suspended following his red card for a headbutt on Joachim Andersen in the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace last Monday.
"It's important we all recognise we are getting a 'work in progress' with Darwin - he recognises that himself," said Klopp when Liverpool announced the signing of the Benfica striker in June.
Nunez, 23, will also miss the home games against Bournemouth on 27 August and Newcastle on 31 August.
It is a setback for Klopp who has been without several players because of injury including Thiago Alcantara (thigh), Diogo Jota (thigh), Curtis Jones (calf), Joel Matip (groin), Roberto Firmino (foot), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (thigh) and Ibrahima Konate (knee).
"We have had a really tricky week," said Klopp. "Every day someone pulls up and you think 'what is going on here - do we have a witch in the building?'"
'Do we have a witch in the building'
While it is important to recognise the season is still in its infancy, Liverpool need a win after dropping four points from two games.
They will have to get it without Nunez, who is suspended following his red card for a headbutt on Joachim Andersen in the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace last Monday.
"It's important we all recognise we are getting a 'work in progress' with Darwin - he recognises that himself," said Klopp when Liverpool announced the signing of the Benfica striker in June.
Nunez, 23, will also miss the home games against Bournemouth on 27 August and Newcastle on 31 August.
It is a setback for Klopp who has been without several players because of injury including Thiago Alcantara (thigh), Diogo Jota (thigh), Curtis Jones (calf), Joel Matip (groin), Roberto Firmino (foot), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (thigh) and Ibrahima Konate (knee).
"We have had a really tricky week," said Klopp. "Every day someone pulls up and you think 'what is going on here - do we have a witch in the building?'"
'United in bad shape'
Two seasons ago, this fixture had to be postponed when fans got into the stadium as a protest against the Glazer family escalated way beyond the scope of security put in place to deal with it.
Given United were on a 13-match unbeaten run on their way to a second-placed Premier League finish - and also went on to reach the Europa League final, little wonder there are fears around this particular rematch.
United have not been in as bad a shape as this for nearly 50 years, when they actually were relegated from the top flight.
Organisers have publicised the pre-match protests. It is hard to imagine that on a weekday evening during the holiday season, the attendance will be a big one.
United as a club need the protests to be peaceful but there will be a lot of nervous people until the game actually starts.