Liverpool v Man Utd Tips | 17th January 2016 | Sky Sports 1

TWO of England's biggest foes meet at Anfield. What is Chris Graham (@chrisgraham79) backing?

Liverpool v Manchester United | Sunday 14:05 | Sky Sports 1

Another classic clash in the pantheon of English football as these two North West giants take each other on Anfield. In my lifetime it's rare for this meeting to be a showdown between two in-form sides in touch of the title and once again that doesn't occur here.

Both sides have flaws that's for sure. Liverpool lie ninth with just eight wins from their 21 league matches this season while their opponents are on one of their worst runs in modern times with just one league win in their last eight matches.

United boss Louis Van Gaal seems to have been on the brink for a month now and a defeat here could spell the end. He rolled the dice midweek in their match against Newcastle by operating a more attacking style. It worked in the sense that they scored three goals but failed in the sense that they conceded three too.

It's unlikely his side will adopt the same outlook here and you get the impression Van Gaal would take a draw here as he'll be aware of the significance of losing this fixture.

Liverpool have been a punters nightmare all season but it looked like they ran to form on Wednesday night with their home draw against Arsenal. A similar performance here might be enough, but with Liverpool you can't take anything for granted.

The betting points to a Liverpool win at 6/4 with Manchester United at 5/2. The reverse fixture put a near-fatal wound into Brendan Rodgers so will history repeat itself with Van Gaal this time round?

Both managers will be aware of the significance of this match and I can see both sides playing to a decent level. A draw would suit either club I think and that's the angle I'm taking here at 12/5. The pain of defeat feels more powerful than the joy of a win.