Shane: United reserves away to Liverpool can only go one way, and I don't think it will be good for United. Time for prayer

Noodles: I don't think I've ever felt less optimistic about a football game and Scott McTominay being made captain based on "passion and desire" has done nothing to reassure me

Kostas Tsimikas sends the ball towards the far post and it drops in an inviting position but Sofyan Amrabat is able to scramble away.

Manchester United under pressure from the off.

A huge roar as Liverpool win a corner after just 16 seconds. Some immediate defending for Manchester United and they deal with the corner but not very convincingly as Ryan Gravenberch is fouled on the right side of the box.

Every single player is a picture of focus as referee Michael Oliver blows his whistle and this huge fixture between two massive rivals gets under way.

Dion Dublin
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

McTominay will be happy pulling people up if they're making mistakes or not pulling their weight.

He knows what this fixture is all about.

Man Utd need that type of captain that will hold people accountable for their performances.

But will they be able to match his performance?

Seth: I understand dropping Rashford because he's not been performing, but it's criminal to keep playing Anthony each game when he's not creating anything. At least Rashford scored 2 goals this season. I was hoping to see Pellistri start this game over Anthony.

Out come the two teams and, with the sky now dark and the floodlights on, there's a cracking atmosphere that just screams huge game.

Dion Dublin
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Jurgen Klopp knows who his backbone is and who to turn too. Her knows who to ask to do a job and get a result.

At the moment, Man Utd don't know what to do and what team to pick. There's been many changes so they're still finding their feet in this season and that's strange to say.

Arsenal

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was asked about whether Kai Havertz was now putting in the performances he expected: "In terms of goals, yes. In terms of performances it’s exactly the same as he was at the start of the season. You can see he’s confident and enjoying his football."

Arsenal

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to BBC Sport: "Incredible performance. A joy to watch from the start to the end. The way we did it against this very good team. Even at half-time the scoreline didn’t reflect that. We fully deserved to win the game.

"We had 15 shots [in the first half], it was a lot. We had to keep going. We don’t have that accuracy in front of goal."

On the danger of Brighton equalising at 1-0: "That’s the Premier League. You see it in every game. We had many situations to put the ball in the net and we didn’t, 1-0 isn’t enough."

Sir Alex Ferguson is here for this one. What sort of Manchester United performance will he witness?

You know in his day that the players would be fired up and give their all and that will be the least he, and the Manchester United fans, expect.

Dion Dublin
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

The staff won't let them forget [about losing 7-0 last season] and hopefully the players keep reminding each other to not let themselves be embarrassed again.

Scott McTominay has had to start taking responsibility so I'm glad that he's got the armband today.

If Man Utd get a draw here today then I personally think it's a very good result for them. It would be huge for them.

It doesn't matter as a player what's going on at a football club as long as it's fine on the pitch. But performances have been good, so get a result today and the feeling might change!

Liverpool should win the game, but they might not.

Image source, Getty Images

Mohamed Salah has either scored (17 goals) or assisted (four assists) a goal in each of his last 16 Premier League games at Anfield for Liverpool.

A goal or assist in this game will make this the joint-second longest run of home appearances with a goal involvement by any player in the competition (17, level with Alan Shearer from April 1996 to May 1997 and Thierry Henry from November 2002 to October 2003) and put him behind only Alan Shearer (18 from March 1995 to February 1996).

Dion Dublin
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Performances have been bad [for Manchester United] but the points are okay.

This is different because they're coming to their biggest rival, bar Man City, and it's a Liverpool team that are just finding their feet again.

If you can't get yourself up for this one and show that you're doing everything you can for the fans ad club, then you're struggling.

This is a game where Manchester United players have to show what playing for the club means to them.

They didn't do it last season and were outplayed. If you get outplayed but you're giving blood, sweat and tears then fine. But you can't go out on a whimper. The fans won't except that.

Image source, .

With the attacking players that Liverpool have got, I am absolutely certain that they will win. I honestly don't think United have a chance.

The injuries that defenders Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw suffered against Bayern are a blow for Erik ten Hag's side and, at the other end, they barely carry a threat.

United can only win by playing counter-attack but for that to work their forwards will need to offer far more than we've seen from them recently.

Maybe Antony will chop inside and bend one into the top corner this time, but I doubt it - he hasn't scored yet this season.

It is possible we will see some more brilliance from Alejandro Garnacho, and his pace could cause Liverpool problems down their right side.

But I don't really know whether Rasmus Hojlund is any good or not, because the service he gets is non-existent.

United still haven't beaten anyone in the top half of the table, either. How can they win this game? There is just no way, unless some huge refereeing decisions go their way.

Liverpool are not just in the top half, they are a top team and they are in top spot - and they are going to spank them.

Prediction: 4-0

Clinton Morrison
Former Republic of Ireland striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Arsenal have just got to be more clinical because 2-0 looks like a good scoreline. Credit to them because they got the job done but they missed a lot of chances.

If you do that against the top teams, like at Liverpool next week then you will get punished.

Arsenal

Arsenal goalscorer Gabriel Jesus: "It’s not only about the result, the way we played, the way we controlled then. They have a good team. It was amazing.

"Kai is an amazing player, so strong and tall, his quality, he helps us a lot. We’re very happy we have him. Everyone knows about City’s quality. We have to focus on our game. It's not only City in the Premier League. Liverpool are playing so well and Villa are playing amazing. We have to focus on us."