Jamie Carragher warns Liverpool over Old Trafford factor ahead of Manchester United clash

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has issued a warning to his former club (Picture: Getty)

Jamie Carragher has warned Liverpool over the Old Trafford factor ahead of their trip to Manchester United this weekend.

The Premier League leaders travel to Manchester on Sunday afternoon hoping to keep their title challenge on track and inflict more misery on Erik ten Hag’s side.

Liverpool, aiming to win the title in Jurgen Klopp’s final season at Anfield, are two points ahead of Arsenal and three above Manchester City with eight games remaining.

United, meanwhile, are sixth having won just one of their last five league games and suffering a devastating 4-3 defeat to Chelsea on Thursday night.

Despite the huge points difference between the sides, Carragher has warned his former club against complacency ahead of Sunday’s match and insists Old Trafford is one of the ‘most challenging’ venues for a Liverpool player.

The last time Liverpool visited the Theatre of Dreams – less than a month ago – they were knocked out of the FA Cup despite leading twice. United also frustrated Klopp’s side in a goalless draw at Anfield earlier in the season.

‘There are two venues in world football which are the most challenging for a Liverpool player,’ Carragher wrote in a column for the Daily Telegraph.

‘One is Old Trafford and the other is Goodison Park. Both trips are heading Jurgen Klopp’s way and will have a massive influence on whether his Anfield farewell ends with another league title.

‘Old Trafford is one of those stadiums where you feel the weight of history as soon as the game kicks off, sense a different vibe trying to get through the 90 minutes, and never feel comfortable, no matter what the score. 

‘Usually the Anfield fixture is hyped up for the atmosphere, as though it is more difficult for United players going there than the other way around. I can assure you it works both ways. 

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‘Where Anfield is compressed and can feel like an oppressive arena for United players when the crowd is at its best, Old Trafford feels bigger – almost like Wembley – where there are so many spaces for United players to exploit. You could never switch off for fear the momentum of a game could change in an instant. 

‘And when the tide turns the legs get heavier and it feels like you are helpless when the home players and fans smell blood. Old Trafford is one of those places where many players freeze. 

‘It does not matter how terrible one side or the other is performing in the weeks going into this game. We have seen it enough times now to understand that at home Manchester United and Liverpool always have the capacity to find an extra yard of pace, more intensity for every tackle, and more determination to guarantee they leave nothing on the pitch.

‘The home fans will always bring extra noise. I am sure United regulars who attended the FA Cup win will agree it felt like they were watching a different side in a different stadium to what they have witnessed most, if not all, this season. 

‘When all those elements come together, there is a belief based on so many era-defining examples that no difficulty cannot be overcome. 

‘Before both games against United this season – the first was a 0-0 draw at Anfield – I cannot help but feel even some Liverpool fans fell into the trap of believing they would only have to beat an inconsistent and inferior United team rather than worry about the history and tradition of the match.’

Liverpool will likely lose their place at the top of the Premier League before facing United as title rivals Arsenal and Manchester City are both in action earlier in the weekend, facing Brighton and Crystal Palace respectively.

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