• Premier League, 2011-12

Liverpool can upset Man Utd

Steven Gerrard could start his first game for Liverpool since March against old foes Manchester United © PA Photos

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The two most successful sides in English football meet at Anfield on Saturday lunchtime, each with a point to prove. For champions United, it's another chance to show their superiority, as well as keeping their noses in front at the top of the table; for Liverpool, it's an opportunity to cut the gap between the two teams to three points and give more evidence that they may be contenders once more.

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On paper, United have the edge having gone past Liverpool's long-standing record of 18 league titles when they won the title in May. But in recent seasons, Liverpool have made life very difficult for them at Anfield and I get the feeling that may be the case again this time.

Dirk Kuyt grabbed the headlines last season with his hat-trick as Liverpool won 3-1 - a win inspired by Luis Suarez - and Liverpool have actually beaten United at Anfield in each of the past three seasons. The crowd is obviously a big factor but the key is that Liverpool usually get right in among the United players and over-run their midfield.

United face a tough decision on whether to bring back fit-again Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand at the heart of the defence. Vidic has twice been sent off at Anfield and used to be given a torrid time by Fernando Torres. Now he has Suarez to cope with.

And then there's Wayne Rooney. The striker will be desperate to shake off the blow of being banned for the first three matches of next summer's European Championships and how he responds will be a major factor to the result on Saturday. If he is too fired up he will run a massive risk of a red card but Liverpool will be wary of what he can do.

Betting bullets

• Bet of the weekend: Liverpool to beat Manchester United - 2/1 bet365
• The weekend punt: Everton to draw at Chelsea - 7/2 bet365
• The weekend treble: Norwich, Stoke and QPR to win - 8/1 bet365

The home side have a fully-fit squad from which to choose, including Steven Gerrard, who could make his first start since March. All in all, I'd make this a 50-50 call, which makes the 2/1 on offer with bet365 pretty generous. At that price, Liverpool are the bet of the weekend.

Chelsea have begun to look pretty impressive after a slow start under new manager Andre Villas-Boas and most people will expect them to get the better of Everton this weekend at Stamford Bridge.

But a quick look at recent history suggests that Everton may make more of a match of this than most people might think because the two sides have drawn in each of the past three years at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League. Sometimes the match-up is more important than what is on paper and the two sides are pretty well-matched physically.

Everton played pretty well for long periods against Liverpool before the extra man did for them in the last half an hour and anything is possible this weekend, especially as the back-on-form Torres is still suspended. I don't think I am brave enough to suggest they can win it at 9/1, but at 7/2 for another draw, they can be the weekend punt.

Norwich and Swansea have made excellent starts to their seasons back in the top flight but when the two sides meet at Carrow Road this weekend, home advantage could be the thing that separates the two. Swansea have lost all three of their away games so far and Norwich can start the weekend treble at 6/5 with bet365.

Stoke may have been beaten at Swansea last time out but they are fearsome side at home these days and look a cracking price at 6/5 to see off poor travellers, Fulham. And I am going to take a risk that the good Queens Park Rangers show up this weekend - if they do then they can take care of Blackburn Rovers at home, at 5/6.

Put those three together and you have a treble that works out at around 8/1, which would keep us firmly in profit this season. Good luck!

Running total after weekend four = +0.65pts)

Please note that odds are correct at time of publication and are subject to change.

Simon Cambers is ESPN.co.uk's betting correspondent

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