Clashes between Liverpool and Manchester United usually produce good football and endless drama.

Tomorrow at Anfield, Liverpool will be looking to turn the tables on United following their 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford earlier this season.

Last weekend, United were in a class of their own as they sunk Tottenham without a trace in a 3-0 rout. Liverpool won 1-0 at Swansea on Monday night as both Lancashire rivals continue with their bid for a top-four finish.

Reds midfielder Joe Allen has admitted that it has taken longer than expected for Liverpool to turn their season around but now he is confident that they can make it a successful campaign.

Manager Brendan Rodgers is adamant sentiment will not cloud his judgment over Steven Gerrard, but believes Liverpool will require the midfielder’s qualities between now and the end of the season.

So far, Gerrard has missed seven games.

Rodgers is confident fatigue will not hamper their bid for a top-four place despite an arduous season.

European commitments and a run to the semi-finals of the League Cup, in addition to their continued involvement in the FA Cup, means the Reds have played 46 matches this season.

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal’s insistence that his players are making progress under his demanding management was validated by their best performance of the season against Tottenham.

Wayne Rooney captained United to victory over Spurs at Old Trafford only hours after footage emerged showing him being knocked out cold by former team-mate Phil Bardsley in a sparring session in his kitchen.

The last 10 Premier League clashes between Liverpool and United at Anfield denote a balance of four victories each.

2013: Liverpool-Man. Utd 1-0
2012: Liverpool-Man. Utd 1-2
2011: Liverpool-Man. Utd 1-1
2011: Liverpool-Man. Utd 3-1
2009: Liverpool-Man. Utd 2-0
2008: Liverpool-Man. Utd 2-1
2007: Liverpool-Man. Utd 0-1
2007: Liverpool-Man. Utd 0-1
2005: Liverpool-Man. Utd 0-0
2005: Liverpool-Man. Utd 0-1

Despite failing to fully profit from Manchester City’s upset to Burnley last week, Chelsea remain in a very strong position as they continue to lead the standings unimpeded.

Tomorrow they play guests to Hull. Chelsea will be looking for their fifth double of the season after they won home and away against Swansea, Aston Villa, Everton and West Ham.

Champions misfire

Second-placed Manchester City have failed to find a cure to their hiccups as the upset at Burnley was their fifth of the season.

That was followed by the exit from the Champions League at the hands of Barcelona.

This afternoon City entertain West Brom at the Etihad Stadium.

Despite the two successive setbacks in a short period of time, manager Manuel Pellegrini still reckons City are not out of the Premier League race yet but critics have suggested that the Chilean will be shown the back door at the end of the season.

Third-placed Arsenal travel to the north east today to play guests to depleted Newcastle.

The Gunners have looked in fine form lately even though they were knocked out by Monaco in the Champions League last-16 stage on the away goals rule after a 3-3 aggregate draw.

Manager Arsene Wenger continues to play down his side’s chances in the championship even though Arsenal recorded an eighth home league victory by beating West Ham 3-0 to keep the pressure on Chelsea and second-placed City.

At Upton Park, erratic West Ham take on dejected Sunderland.

Manager Sam Allardyce can follow Gus Poyet in getting the sack before the season ends.

Dick Advocaat has taken over at Sunderland till the end of term.

Tottenham, having lost heavily at Old Trafford last time out, can revive their fortunes by beating bottom club Leicester.

Tottenham saved their worst performance of the season for the clash with United according to manager Mauricio Pochettino.

The Spurs boss was critical of his side’s “very poor” performance and felt that the game was over after the first goal.

Fixtures and forecast

Premier League
Aston Villa-Swansea - X
Man. City-West Brom (13.45) - 1
Newcastle-Arsenal - 2
Southampton-Burnley - 1
Stoke City-Crystal Palace - 1
Tottenham-Leicester - 1
West Ham-Sunderland (18.30) - 1

Tomorrow:
Hull City-Chelsea (17.00) - 2
Liverpool-Man. United (14.30) - 1
QPR-Everton (17.00) - X

Standings: Chelsea 64; Manchester City 58; Arsenal 57; Manchester United 56; Liverpool 54; Southampton, Tottenham 50; Stoke City 42; Swansea City 40; West Ham United 39; Newcastle 35; Crystal Palace, West Brom 33; Everton 31; Hull, Aston Villa 28; Sunderland 26; Burnley 25; QPR 22; Leicester 19.

The Championship
Blackburn-Brighton - 1
Blackpool-Leeds - X
Bournemouth-M’boro (13:15) - 1
Brentford-Millwall (14:00) - 1
Cardiff-Birmingham - 1
Charlton-Reading - X
Huddersfield-Fulham - 1
Norwich-Nottm Forest - 1
Rotherham-Sheffield Wed. - X
Watford-Ipswich Town - 1
Wigan-Bolton - 1

League One
Barnsley-Preston NE - X
Bradford-Fleetwood - 1
Coventry-Doncaster - 1
Crawley-Leyton Orient - X
Crewe-Oldham - 1
Gillingham-Colchester - 1
MK Dons-Notts County - 1
Peterborough-Chesterfield - 1
Rochdale-Scunthorpe - 1
Sheffield Utd-Port Vale - 1

League Two
Accrington-York - 1
Wimbledon-Portsmouth - 1
Bury-Northampton - 1
Carlisle-Morecambe - X
Cheltenham-Exeter - X
Hartlepool-Mansfield - 1
Plymouth-Newport - 1
Shrewsbury-Oxford - 1
Southend-Cambridge - 1
Stevenage-Dagenham - 1
Tranmere-Burton - X

Hot four
Manchester City, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, Brentford.