United were in devilish form at Old Trafford on Sunday as they sealed their sixth consecutive Premier League victory by beating Liverpool 3-0.

The relative lack of current success for both clubs is threatening to take some of the bite out this most tempestuous of clashes.

Robin van Persie’s double at Southampton has left Louis van Gaal’s side in third place but defender Evans has played enough times against Liverpool to know anything can happen.

Phelan, who spent five years as Sir Alex Ferguson’s right-hand man at Old Trafford before leaving when David Moyes took over the reins in 2013, says the new regime under Louis van Gaal could be the reason for United’s injuries this term.

On paper what looks like a staggeringly good win against a Southampton side who had started the season on fire was actually a far from convincing victory for United.

Robin van Persie’s double secured a 2-1 victory for United – their fifth on the bounce – against Southampton on Monday evening, though they only managed three shots on goal, their lowest tally in a game since 2003.

The 29-year-old ensured Louis van Gaal’s men recorded a fourth straight league victory with a remarkable goal line clearance in the dying moments against Stoke on Tuesday as United seek to pass third-placed Southampton this evening.

United manager Louis van Gaal has again been promised another vast transfer budget to continue re-shaping his United squad, on top of the £150million spent in the last window.

The club have brought through 36 players to be ranked second of the 98 clubs surveyed by the International centre for sports studies and 12 of those still play for United.

United edged out Mark Hughes’ visitors 2-1 at Old Trafford last night thanks to goals from Marouane Fellaini and Juan Mata.

After Man Utd’s victory over Hull, manager Louis van Gaal, who has managed some of Europe’s most prestigious clubs in the form of Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, bemoaned the fact that the Reds have to play over Christmas.