By Gary Fulcher, Daniel Rhodes and Mihail Vladimirov.

Liverpool will need to get over the disappointment of dropping out of the Champions League very quickly, with three huge fixtures in the space of seven days demanding our full attention, starting with a trip to Old Trafford on Sunday – 1.30pm kick off UK time – where Louis Van Gaal’s side lie in wait. With the League Cup quarter final encounter with Championship side Bournemouth and a visit to Anfield from the Gunners in the league following our trip to Old Trafford, there is no respite for the Reds as we head into the festive period as the end of 2014 draws closer.

Seven points separate the 3rd placed Red Devils from 9th placed Liverpool after 15 league games. Man Utd have lost just one of their last ten league games – going down 0-1 in the Manchester derby at the City of Manchester Stadium – and have won five in a row in the Premier League: 1-0 against Crystal Palace (h), 2-1 against Arsenal (a), 3-0 against Hull (h), 2-1 against Stoke (h) and 2-1 against Southampton (a). Manchester Utd are clearly reaping the benefits of not having to juggle European and league commitments, as Liverpool did last season.

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