Liverpool v Manchester United: Back goals as the International Champions Cup comes to a close

Daniel Sturridge has flown back to the UK for treatment

It's the final of the pre-season International Champions Cup tonight, and auld enemies Liverpool and Manchester United face off. Luke Moore takes a look...

Liverpool v Manchester United, International Champions Cup
Tuesday August 5, 01:00
Live on Sky Sports 1

Liverpool

Having lost to Roma in their opening pre-season game of their US tour, Liverpool have looked pretty good since. Successfully beating Olympiakos and Manchester City (on penalties) before outclassing Milan 2-0, they now face the prospect of facing off against an old enemy in what promises to be a competitive encounter.

Brendan Rodgers knows he'll need to rely on his squad a lot more this season due the Champions League coming into play for his team, and that may be why he made so many changes during the game against Pippo Inzaghi's Milan. Manchester United under Louis van Gaal presents a challenge, and Rodgers will want to win this competition ahead of their final friendly against Borussia Dortmund on Sunday.

The Reds will, however, be without frontline striker Daniel Sturridge who has flown back to the UK for treatment on a minor hamstring injury.

Manchester United

Manchester United have hit the ground running since Louis van Gaal has taken the reins, and he appears to now be in charge of a hungry squad of players all keen to impress one of the best managers working in the game today. 

The Red Devils put Real Madrid to the sword in front of a record crowd of 109,318 in Michigan on their way to this showdown with Liverpool, and the Old Trafford outfit remain unbeaten under Van Gaal so far.

It's clear that the Dutchman isn't going to accept any nonsense as he looks to restore United back to the top of the Premier League and Europe, and a win over local rivals would certainly endear him even further to fans at this early stage of his tenure.

Match Odds

In games such as these, and at this point in the football calendar, it can be a minefield trying to predict outcomes of football matches. The reasons for this are obvious, but they are also exacerbated when one or both of the teams involved has a new manager who wants to look at as many players as he can.

Liverpool rang the changes for their victory over Milan, making eight substitutions at the same time at one point in the game and Van Gaal is widely-tipped to change the side that beat Real Madrid in quite dramatic fashion.

All this points toward a 'no bet', but if you still fancy dabbling in this market, Liverpool look the most value at a big 3.55n/a, despite a few injury concerns. United are big favourites at 2.226/5, presumably due to their recent form and unbeaten status under Van Gaal, but there's no reason the Reds can't upset the apple cart and get a result here. Rodgers' men are certainly the most settled side in general and have also looked pretty good in pre-season so far.

The Draw is available to back at 3.65n/a.

Over/Under 2.5 Goals

I'm naturally leaning towards Overs in this game. Friendlies (despite being competed for in much more serious style on this occasion) tend to be high-scoring affairs in my experience, especially when players are looking to impress either a new manager or a new club and so, despite the slightly trim price of 1.768/11, I'm happy to back Over 2.5 Goals here.

If you fancy a more nip-and-tuck affair, you're welcome to get stuck into Unders at 2.26/5, but I don't see the game going that way. There'll be a good atmosphere, two teams looking to impress and end this actually quite lucrative tournament on a high, and for that reason I can see goals.

To Score

Not a hugely liquid market at this stage, the To Score angle is nevertheless quite an interesting one. It should fatten up a bit between now and kick off, too.

One player I've really liked the look of so far this summer in pre-season is Jordon Ibe. The ex-Wycombe Wanderers winger, still only 18, has had a good summer so far and must surely have claims to start featuring a lot more this season, a la Raheem Sterling.

He's not managed to score yet, but an exciting attacking player like him will surely start scoring sooner rather than later and so at odds of 6.05/1 or better to score at any time in the match (90 minutes only) he rates as a good bet.

Recommended Bets

Back Over 2.5 Goals at 1.768/11
Back Jordon Ibe to score at any time at 6.05/1 or better