Home comforts: Liverpool can use fortress Anfield to exploit Man Utd
The Reds' Champions League journey - barring a miracle - appears to be coming to an end after a sobering 5-2 defeat at Anfield to Real Madrid in the first leg of their last 16 tie.
Jurgen Klopp's men failed to make amends as they were then held to a stalemate at Crystal Palace in the Premier League but fared better back home on Wednesday as they overcame Wolves 2-0, keeping their hopes of a top-four finish going.
Liverpool's 10 points from their last four league games has clawed them into a sixth in the table, but their momentum will be tested when they next welcome newly-crowned League Cup champions Manchester United to Anfield.
Although a consistent stream of positive results haven't necessarily gone Liverpool's way this season, they can find solace ahead of Sunday's fixture that their record at home has still been pretty good.
Liverpool have put up 39 points so far this season with 27 of those coming at Anfield, which makes for the fourth-best record in the division.
Klopp's side have claimed 11 wins, five draws and have been beaten just twice in all competitions at home - the recent hammering by Real Madrid and a late league defeat to Leeds in October.
Looking at just the league, Liverpool's good record on home turf extends further back. The loss against Leeds stands as their only defeat in 35 games, while they have won on 26 occasions in that time.
But there is a noticeable difference in performance when Liverpool are on their travels this term, though, where some of the club's more blunt showings have come.
Since the turn of the year, Liverpool have been beaten convincingly by the likes of Brentford, Brighton and Wolves and with United upcoming, the 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford in August will stick out.
But Liverpool will look to use the backing of the Anfield faithful to power them on against the in-form Red Devils and will tap into some of their earlier home displays for inspiration.
They demolished Bournemouth 9-0 in the season's infancy, took down Manchester City and brushed aside Napoli - one of Europe's best-performing sides - during the Champions League group stage.
And crucially, Liverpool have made Anfield a fortress for visiting 'big six' sides. Their last seven games against said teams have yielded three wins and four draws, while they have lost just two of their previous 35 as hosts.
So, there are positives to be looked at for Liverpool in spite of their strange campaign and their renewed hope in the top-four race should give them a boost as the games tick away.
They are only six points off a volatile Tottenham team who occupy the final Champions League spot and have a game in hand, so they are well within range with plenty still at stake.
However, the United clash could prove to be pivotal in their chase. Win and the three points against a revitalised Erik ten Hag side will serve as a morale-booster going forward, while a poor result could turn the tide the other way.
But Liverpool should still take confidence going into the fixture and going forward given they have managed to maintain Anfield's status as a difficult place to play.
