Liverpool travel to Manchester United this afternoon (4pm kick-off) looking to register their first win of 2017.

Jurgen Klopp’s side drew at Sunderland on January 2, and then could only muster a 0-0 draw with League Two Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup last weekend.

However, it was to get worse for the Reds this week as they went down 1-0 at Southampton in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final, so they haven’t had the ideal run-up ahead of their trip to Old Trafford this afternoon.

Nonetheless, they finished 2016 with four straight Premier League victories, and are very much in the title race with 18 games to play, although they could really do with a positive result this afternoon.

It’ll be a tough ask though as Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United have won their last six league matches and nine in all competitions, bringing them right back into the title picture going into the second half of the season.

In what is sure to be an interesting encounter at Old Trafford, here are THREE reasons why Liverpool will beat United this afternoon…

Great record vs top six

Liverpool have picked up 11 points in five matches against the top six sides this season, which is more than any of their title rivals.

Three wins over Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City, as well as two draws against Tottenham and Mourinho’s United mean that Klopp’s men top the mini-league between the top six sides – they are two points clear of Chelsea, who have won three of their six matches.

Since Klopp took over, the Reds have played against the top six sides 13 times and only lost once, with Louis van Gaal’s United beating them 1-0 at Anfield in January last year.

This bodes well for Liverpool when they travel to Old Trafford, especially given that United have won only one of their five games against the top six this season.

Coutinho returns

Philippe Coutinho’s return to first team action against Southampton in midweek will give Liverpool a huge boost ahead of the United game.

The Brazilian international sustained an ankle ligament injury against Sunderland at the end of November and thus spent a while on the sidelines, but his half an hour cameo against the Saints reminded everyone of the 24-year-old’s quality in the final third.

Although he wasn’t quite match sharp, Coutinho still made a difference when he came on and, should he be fit to start against United this afternoon, he could have the crucial say.

Klopp needs his best players playing at their best to get past an in-form United – Coutinho is arguably his best, and just his presence on the pitch will give the Reds a boost, and will also give United something else to think about over the course of the 90 minutes.

Perfect place to get back to winning ways

Liverpool have yet to win in 2017, but what a place Old Trafford would be to get back to winning ways, and indeed get their title challenge back on track.

The Reds could only manage a 2-2 draw at Sunderland on January 2, a result which looked set to set them back in the title race, yet Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat at Tottenham on January 4 means that they actually reduced the gap to Antonio Conte’s men to five points.

However, Klopp’s men then fired a blank against Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup, before producing a measly display to lose at Southampton in midweek.

Whether their early season pressing and high-energy football is catching up with them remains to be seen, but they’ll certainly be up for a trip to Old Trafford against a United side bang in form.

Victory for Liverpool would not only get them back on track, but it would probably end United’s faint title hopes – what an incentive for Klopp and his men!