You Bet | Stronger Liverpool can take down Manchester United

The English Premier League weekend opens with Chelsea v Leicester – the last two champions – and climaxes with Liverpool v Manchester United, and there is another top-six clash between Manchester City and Everton sandwiched in the middle.

That is a tasty menu, but the main course comes on Monday night. Liverpool v Manchester United is one of the most fierce rivalries in English football and, after the long years when one of the clubs was on their perch looking down on the other, it is more evenly poised than usual as both teams search for the formula that will take them into title contention.

Liverpool look closer to that target based on this season’s form, which has the limp 2-0 defeat at Burnley as the only weak link.

Juergen Klopp’s team are unbeaten in their other six league games, which is impressive considering that half of them have been against fellow big-six teams.

After mixed results last season, Klopp’s high-pressing game appears to have taken root and they are joint-highest scorers alongside Manchester City with 18 goals from the opening seven games. Again, considering they have visited Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea already, that goal tally is no mean feat.

The summer signings have played an important role, particularly defender Joel Matip and striker Sadio Mane, and Liverpool look stronger all round. Their absence from European football should help them to maintain their energy levels as the season goes on.