Both Manchester United and Liverpool were in European competition over the week, but the latter should be fresher for Sunday’s match despite playing two days later.

United were eliminated from the Champions League on Tuesday after falling to Bayern Munich 1-0 at home. Erik ten Hag’s side faced an uphill task following two successive defeats to begin the group stages, and they eventually ended bottom of Group A and would have no continental football after Christmas.

Ten Hag would be relieved to know that his team played 48 hours before Liverpool, who had to go to Belgium for their last Europa League group stage encounter against Union Saint-Gilloise. Those small gains can be significant come the weekend, but Jurgen Klopp had a luxury that his dugout counterpart did not.

Liverpool had already secured top spot and an immediate entry into the Europa League round-of-32 draw after winning four of their first five group stage games. As a result, Klopp was able to rotate heavily in what was virtually a dead rubber game, which they lost 2-1.

Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Virgil van Dijk were all rested for the night, while Luis Diaz, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Kostas Tsimikas sat on the bench but did not play. Darwin Nunez and Ryan Gravenberch came off the bench but were given limited playing time.

Ten Hag was compelled to go full strength because to the importance of United’s game on Tuesday, and as a result, he lost usual starting Harry Maguire in the first half. Luke Shaw appeared to have a problem as well, but he will be available for the weekend.

Nonetheless, it means that United will arrive at Anfield on Sunday significantly more tired and with less recovery time than those expected to start for Liverpool. Ten Hag may choose to rotate his lineup with the absence of Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford in midweek, but the core will have played 90 minutes just a few days earlier.