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We’re an hour away from the 3pm kick-offs, which means one thing — team news.
After his third goal in as many games since arriving from Monaco, Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal starts 19-year-old Anthony Martial, while Matteo Darmian switches from right full-back to left with Antonio Valencia coming into the back-line.
Manchester United: De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Blind, Darmian; Schneiderlin, Carrick; Mata, Rooney (c), Memphis; Martial.
Sunderland: Pantilimon, Jones, van Aanholt, O’Shea (c), Kaboul, Cattermole, M’Vila, Johnson, Toivonen, Lens, Borini.
With Christian Benteke, Roberto Firmino and Dejan Lovren all injured, Danny Ings and Daniel Sturridge are named up front for Liverpool and Mamadou Sakho partners Martin Skrtel at the back.
For Villa, Jack Grealish is restored to the team after impressing as a half-time substitute in the 1-0 Capital One Cup win over Birmingham in midweek, while Ireland defender Ciaran Clark drops to the bench.
Liverpool: Mignolet; Clyne, Skrtel, Sakho, Moreno; Can, Lucas, Milner (c), Coutinho; Ings, Sturridge.
Aston Villa: Guzan; Hutton, Richards (c), Lescott, Amavi; Sanchez, Gana, Westwood, Gestede, Grealish; Sinclair.
Massive news from the early kick, where Manchester City are losing 4-1 to Tottenham with ten minutes remaining. If that one stays the way it is, a win for Man United against the Premier League’s bottom club would see them leapfrog their city rivals into top spot.
So we’ll be following Liverpool v Villa and United v Sunderland primarily in this liveblog.
However, you can keep an eye on all today’s Premier League action in our score centre right here.
A bit of an ominous stat for Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool — Villa are unbeaten in their last four matches at Anfield, losing just twice on their last eight visits to the ground.
Liverpool, perhaps today more than ever, need to reverse this trend.
We’re underway in both games…
LIVERPOOL 1-0 ASTON VILLA (MILNER 1)
Straight away, Coutinho plays it to Milner, who rifles the ball home from the edge of the box.
It’s the perfect start for Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool.
Another chance for Liverpool. Moreno whips in a free-kick, but Can’s flick-on is comfortably saved by Guzan.
It’s a lively start from the hosts.
Villa go close this time, as Gestede’s header goes narrowly wide.
It’s been an entertaining opening few minutes, with both sides looking threatening in attack.
In other Irish-related news, Robbie Brady has scored his first goal for Norwich to put them a goal up against West Ham.
Wes Hoolahan is also playing in that game.
It’s been a quiet enough start at Old Trafford.
United have looked the better side, though John O’Shea has just had a header comfortably saved by De Gea.
A Juan Mata shot is deflected wide as United continue to probe.
Meanwhile, Jamie Vardy has put in-form Leicester ahead against Arsenal.
Coutinho takes the ball past Alan Hutton, but Westwood does well to intercept his cross.
The momentum is undoubtedly with Liverpool right now.
Walcott has now equalised for Arsenal against Leicester.
Leicester could go level on points with Man City at the top if they win that game by the way.
Touché.
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Great chance for Gestede.
Can can only direct Hutton’s cross to the striker, but he can’t find the target with his attempt on the edge of the box, not getting the desire connection with the ball and slicing it just wide.
De Gea does well to stop a Lens attempt with his legs.
Down the other end, Depay’s attempt is tipped over the bar by Pantilimon.
Liverpool continue to press and look the better side.
However, there have been signs of nerves at the back that are threatening to undermine the Reds’ good work.
Liverpool had a series of what must have been at least 20 passes, but Villa show good discipline to keep concentration and eventually cause the attack to break down.
Meanwhile, still not too much to report on from Old Trafford.
A goal from Alexis Sanchez has suddenly put Arsenal 2-1 up and in control against Leicester.
So much for the Chilean attacker being out of form.
Liverpool might be a little disappointed to be only 1-0 up at half-time (assuming they don’t score in the next four minutes). They’ve clearly been the dominant side in terms of possession and territory.
As a type though, Westwood’s shot is deflected narrowly wide.
It’s added time in both matches now.
Still plenty to play for as we approach half-time.
MAN UNITED 1-0 SUNDERLAND (DEPAY 45)
Mata plays through Depay, and the Dutch winger makes no mistake with his finish on the stroke of half-time.
It’s a real uphill battle for Sunderland now.
HALF-TIME: MAN UNITED 1-0 SUNDERLAND
HALF-TIME: LIVERPOOL 1-0 ASTON VILLA
So as it stands, United will be top of the table come the end of the day.
So half-time, and both Man United and Liverpool hold slender advantages.
The Red Devils have been made to work against the Premier League’s bottom-of-the-table side.
However, with Sunderland essentially set up to earn a 0-0 draw, it’s hard to see how they’ll recover following Depay’s goal just before the break.
Similarly, Liverpool have been well on top at Anfield, dominating possession and territory throughout the opening 45 minutes.
Brendan Rodgers’ side have looked a little shaky at the back, however, and so there could be chances for Villa in the second half, and you sense the hosts will need at least one more goal to make the victory safe.
The second half is underway…
MAN UNITED 2-0 SUNDERLAND (ROONEY 46)
Martial turns provider to set up Rooney. The youngster’s cross is eventually deflected in via the England striker’s knee from close range.
It ends Rooney 11-game goal drought in the Premier League, and it has also surely wrapped up the three points for United.
Milner’s deflected shot is parried away by Guzan, before Clyne’s follow-up attempt is blocked.
Liverpool continue to knock on the door.
Sturridge beats Lescott, but his cross then goes straight into the hands of Guzan.
Grealish then attempts to carry the ball forward, but Clyne uses his strength to brush him off the ball. It hasn’t been the young winger’s day so far.
It’s now Arsenal 3-1 Leicester.
Alexis Sanchez’s header from Ozil’s cross has increased the Gunners’ advantage.
LIVERPOOL 2-0 ASTON VILLA (STURRIDGE 56)
Fantastic goal from Sturridge as Liverpool deservedly double their advantage.
Milner plays a lofted through pass over the defence and Sturridge volleys an unstoppable shot past Guzan.
Coutinho tries to capitalise on some hesitant play in the Villa defence, winning possession in the final third, but his shot is subsequently blocked.
Villa are in danger of being completely blown away here.
Van Aanholt goes close but De Gea does well to make the save.
That’s a reminder to United that this game’s outcome isn’t quite a formality yet.
LIVERPOOL 2-1 ASTON VILLA (GESTEDE 66)
LIVERPOOL 3-1 ASTON VILLA (STURRIDGE 66)
LIVERPOOL 3-2 ASTON VILLA (GESTEDE 68)
Crazy sequence of place.
Let’s start with the Liverpool goal, which is lovely interplay on the edge of the box between Coutinho and Sturridge before the latter slots the ball into the corner of the net from the edge of the box.
The first Villa goal sees Gestede slide home Hutton’s cross.
Gestede’s second goal sees him climb above Sakho and powerfully head home an in-swinging cross.
Liverpool almost score a fourth, as Coutinho’s free kick is tipped over by Guzan.
Grealish has been replaced by Adama Traore amid all of that madness.
Not too much to report on at Old Trafford, meanwhile, as Man United look set to claim top spot in comfortable fashion.
Sanchez has just scored his hat-trick to make it Arsenal 4-1 Leicester.
The Gunners appear to have recovered well from their disappointing result at Chelsea last week.
Pantilimon makes a good save to stop Mata adding a third for United.
It’s all too easy for the Red Devils right now.
With a just a few minutes remaining, there is a palpable sense of nervousness around Anfield now.
Anything other than a win would be disastrous for Liverpool given how this game has panned out.
Two chances in quick succession for Sturridge.
The first sees his shot blocked by Richards and the second effort goes narrowly wide, after a clever through ball from Ings.
Elsewhere, Wes Hoolahan has another assist, as Nathan Redmond’s goal puts Norwich 2-1 up against West Ham.
Villa have simply not threatened enough since scoring the second goal and surely don’t deserve anything from this game.
Into injury time now…
MAN UNITED 3-0 SUNDERLAND (MATA 90)
Ashley Young’s cross is deflected into the path of Mata.
The Spanish international thrashes the ball into the net to put United’s victory beyond all doubt.
FULL-TIME: MAN UNITED 3-0 SUNDERLAND
FULL-TIME: LIVERPOOL 3-2 ASTON VILLA
So that’s that then. United were ultimately too good for Sunderland, who looked short both in defence and attack today.
Significantly, United climb to the top of the table as a result, while Sunderland remain rock bottom and look like relegation candidates on today’s evidence.
Meanwhile, Liverpool also earned a deserved win. Brendan Rodgers will be encouraged by the form of Daniel Sturridge, who scored two goals and looked like being at close to his best form again.
The Reds, however, had a few nervy moments, with their defence looking far from secure at times.
Right, that’s all from me for now.
Thanks for reading and commenting, and we’ll have plenty more reaction to follow.
