Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville says Liverpool have enough momentum on their side to make them favourites for Sunday’s showdown with his former team at Anfield.

United lead their fierce rivals by two points in the table but Liverpool go into the game knowing victory will see them replace Louis van Gaal’s team in the top four.

Neville says it will be a fiercely-contested occasion and the Sky Sports pundit says United must prepare themselves for an early onslaught in front of the baying masses on Merseyside.

“You’d have to make Liverpool the favourites. I know United played well last week but at Anfield and with their fantastic run of form, you’d have to make them favourites,” Neville said.

“United will have to go there on Sunday and withstand immense pressure, particularly early on in the game. Liverpool have got fantastic energy in that front six.”

Brendan Rodgers has turned Liverpool’s fortunes around since the side’s last met at Old Trafford in December.
The 3-0 win for the home side that day represents Liverpool’s last domestic defeat.

The Reds are 2.12 to exact revenge on United (3.44) at Anfield on Sunday where the draw is 3.24.

Neville expects the opening exchanges to define Sunday’s game for his former club.

“The most fascinating thing for me will be the first 15 or 20 minutes when [Louis] van Gaal asks the centre-backs to split and for Michael Carrick to go and get the ball,” he said.

“Liverpool will be pressing high and the crowd will be up. Can United get out, will they get dispossessed? I always felt the first 20 minutes was defining at Anfield. You have to get through it.”