How Mohamed Salah can outdo Wayne Rooney as Liverpool welcome rivals Manchester United to Anfield in a huge Premier League clash

Despite an unconvincing start to the season, United could move just two points behind the reigning Premier League champions with a win on Merseyside this weekend.

Amorim’s first visit to Anfield last season saw his team draw 2-2 in an entertaining game, but he will be hoping to become the first United manager to win with Liverpool since Louis van Gaal in 2016.

The Reds will be aiming to pick up all three points on Sunday, but star Mohamed Salah has a chance to surpass United legend Wayne Rooney, while Arne Slott will be looking to avoid equaling the record set by the Liverpool manager 11 years ago.

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Salah pays attention to Rooney’s record

Manchester United fans who visit Anfield will be well aware of Salah’s ability to score goals in team games.

However, the Egyptian international has endured a slow start this season after a record-breaking season in 2024-25, with outstanding performances in the Premier League that helped Liverpool win the title.

“What I like about it is he’s been able to be in the position that he wants to be in over and over again. I want him to be in that position,” he said. “He’s shown throughout his career and since I’ve been here that he can score goals.

“Today he had a lot of chances to do what he has done so often, but he’s also a human being. Every chance he gets doesn’t always result in a goal.”

Salah will be licking his lips at the prospect of facing United, having scored 13 goals against the Red Devils, the most in Premier League history.

The ‘King of Egypt’ has also scored in each of United’s last four games in all competitions.

But there is one record that Salah has yet to achieve, and if he wants to achieve it he will need to surpass United legend Wayne Rooney.

Salah has been involved in 19 goals (goals and assists) against United in the league, while Rooney holds the record against a single club with 23 goals in total against Newcastle United.

Players Opponents PL Goals and assists Wayne Rooney Newcastle United 23 Harry Kane Leicester City 22 Alan Shearer Leeds United 21 Frank Lampard Bolton 21 Les Ferdinand Everton 20 Mohamed Salah Manchester United 19

Tables provided by Opta

Many may think it would be too much for Salah to be involved in four goals in one game against United, but the star forward has already achieved the feat on two occasions.

The first happened in 2021 during Liverpool’s memorable 5-0 win at Old Trafford, in which Salah scored a hat-trick and an assist.

The second time came two years later in another devastating stint for the Reds, with the Egyptian scoring twice and contributing a further two assists as Liverpool won 7-0 at Anfield.

Salah continued his fine form in Liverpool’s 3-0 win over United in Manchester last season, setting up Luis Diaz twice in the first half and getting on the scoresheet after the break.

Salah has struggled in front of goal recently, but could face the perfect opponent to get himself and Liverpool back on track.

Slots want to avoid record loss

Despite winning their opening seven games this season, Liverpool find themselves in an unfamiliar situation.

Slott could become the first Liverpool manager since Brendan Rodgers to lose four games in a row in all competitions.

Brendan Rodgers was depressed after Liverpool’s defeat to Crystal Palace in 2014.

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The last time Liverpool lost four games on the bounce was in 2014/15, with all games played in November.

The Reds started the month with a 1-0 defeat at Newcastle and then lost by the same scoreline three days later at Real Madrid, where Rodgers famously left captain Steven Gerrard on the bench.

Jose Mourinho then dealt another blow to Liverpool. His Chelsea team won 2-1 at Anfield, before Crystal Palace claimed a 3-1 win to make it their fourth straight win.

Slott will be hoping to avoid the same fate as Liverpool look to restart the season with disappointing results.

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