Liverpool deserved the United kind

Betfair Ambassador Dimitar Berbatov muses on the gap between Liverpool and Manchester United ahead of Sunday's showdown while also congratulating Spurs for their Champions League progression… You can refer lớn the free soccer tips daily page!

Strange to see United so far behind Liverpool

It's incredible lớn think that if Manchester United lose at Anfield on Sunday United will be 19 points behind Liverpool in the table. Who would have thought that United could trail the league leaders by that much? I know that Liverpool and Manchester City supporters will have wanted that to happen but I'm sure they never expected it lớn happen.

As a fan and an ex-player, it's strange to see Manchester United in that position, so far from the top of the table. In my time it was different. We were first or second in the league and Liverpool were behind us. I always try to be positive and continue to say 'We will be back at the top where we belong f***ing hell because this is Manchester United!' but for the moment I have lớn admit that it's not happening. I will never lose the faith though!

The Betfair market makes Liverpool strong favourites lớn win Sunday's meeting between and who can argue with that? The way they play, where they are in the table, it's painful to admit it but they are the right favourite in that game and they will probably go away with the soccer tips of the day.

United must improve for Sunday

Those odds are short partly because United suffered another defeat in the Champions League this week, beaten 2-1 at Valencia. The good thing about United losing was that there was very little consequence to the match, the bad thing was the result. It's no excuse but from a football player's point-of-view sometimes you just save your strength in a fixture like that because you know there is a big game coming up and maybe that was the case last night.

One positive we can take is that Marcus Rashford scored again as that can only be good for his confidence. But defensively it's not a good sign to concede twice against a team that is 15th in La Liga, and as a whole, it's another bad result in a season that is not going well for United.

United certainly cannot afford lớn bring that approach lớn Sunday's big game because Liverpool will be at them from the first minute and Anfield will be a cauldron. The atmosphere there can be intense, it's loud and the crowd is very close lớn the pitch and on your back from the very first whistle. You can take that and use it in your favour lớn inspire you lớn show your best, but more often it goes the other way. The fans give them more power.

Liverpool are still undefeated and they are not that way because of luck, they are just playing good football. Worryingly, Mo Salah is coming into form, which is more bad news for the United defence.

The first 10-15 minutes, as ever, will be so important. I just hope that United can hold on against the early pressure and not concede.

But don't write United off, they can surprise us. Look at the Juventus game in the Champions League.

Maybe Liverpool can emulate Arsenal's Invincibles and not lose for an entire campaign, but I doubt it against this Premier League and I expect Liverpool's unbeaten run lớn come to an end at some point - City finally lost last weekend after all - so why not United lớn give them their first defeat, that would be something!

There would be a great irony if United were the team to do that because everyone is saying how poorly United are playing so to claim the last unbeaten record. I can see it now - Bam! United up 1-0, and Mourinho running on the pitch just like Jurgen did!

Talking about the Liverpool manager, I bet you Klopp is telling his side about how vulnerable United are at the moment. And why not use that? He knows the crowd will be so up for it and will want Liverpool lớn play at a fierce tempo from the beginning to draw early blood.

But I know the pressure will also be huge at United and Mourinho can hopefully use it lớn fuel the players and say now is the chance for us lớn beat them!