Liverpool vs Manchester United betting tips and odds plus Harry Kane in a 22/1 double and the rest of the Premier League predictions

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Jurgen Klopp’s problem to ponder over the international break was how to plug a leaky defence and as the Premier League returns on Saturday afternoon he’s got a hole to fill at the other end – a big Sadio Mane-shaped one.

Injury to Mane on Senegal duty is terrible timing for Klopp, robbing him of his star attacker ahead of Liverpool’s clash with Manchester United at lunchtime on Saturday.

United were also dealt a couple of blows over the past two weeks – Marouane Fellaini joined fellow midfielder Paul Pogba on the injury list and Jose Mourinho was annoyed when Romelu Lukaku was risked for Belgium against Cyprus. He was only given 24 minutes and managed to get on the scoresheet - again - but Mourinho was still bristling.

Jurgen Klopp's side have been sloppy in defence and now they're missing Sadio Mane in attack

Jose Mourino (centre) was without Paul Pogba and now has Marouane Fellaini on the sidelines

Mane’s absence should cheer him up though as Liverpool's loss is greater than United's. With Mane in the side Liverpool’s win percentage is 60.5 and they score 2.3 goals a game. That drops to 1.3 per game and a 42.9% win rate without him.

Klopp does have Philippe Coutinho to call on but he'll have to be in the type of form that Barcelona will break the bank for to unlock a United defence with more Premier League clean sheets - 17 - than any other side in 2017. In contrast, only Crystal Palace and West Ham have let in more than the 12 league goals Klopp's side have conceded this season.

Last season Mourinho strangled a point out of this fixture but with the tools he has at his disposal one year on another 0-0 draw is unlikely. Bookies can't split them and both sides are 9/5 at best with the draw 5/2 but the fence is no place to sit at Anfield. United just get the nod and a 2-1 win is 10/1 while you can get 14/1 it finishes 2-0 in favour of the visitors.

In the goalscorer markets, Mohamed Salah is the best bet if you’re backing a Liverpool player - 13/2 for the opener and 12/5 at any time - but all eyes will be on Lukaku.

Mourinho does have Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku back fresh from international duty where he took his season's tally to 16 goals in 13 games with this effort against Cyprus

No player has scored eight goals in their first eight games for the club and he’ll be the first if he hits the target on Merseyside. He’s 31/21 at any time and 4/1 for the opener while Marcus Rashford, who must be due one, is 15/2 for the first goal and 27/10 at any time. In-form Henrikh Mkhitaryan is 9/1 to break the deadlock and 10/3 to give you a run for your money and score at any time.

Back along the M62 in Manchester, table-topping City (1/6 at home to Stoke) have won their last two home league games 5-0 and a third on the spin is 16/1. With Sergio Aguero likely to miss out, the 13/2 available for 3-0 appeals more. City are odds-on (no better than 10/11) to win without conceding having allowed their opponents a league-low 45 shots from seven games and just 25 from open play. Raheem Sterling, with five in his last five, is worth a nibble for the first goal. He’s 11/2.

Like Liverpool, Chelsea’s main goal threat also looks set to sit out with a hamstring injury this weekend but the good news for them is it’s only Crystal Palace they’re up against while Alvaro Morata recovers. The Eagles’ rotten run doesn’t look like ending any time soon – they’re 9/1 to beat Chelsea while Antonio Conte’s side are 2/5 and 5/4 to win without conceding.

Across London, Tottenham have a fourth attempt at winning a league game at Wembley when Bournemouth arrive and Harry Kane will look to finally bag at top-flight goal at the national stadium. From Malta to Merseyside he’s been banging them in… but not in Premier League games under the arch.

Liverpool's Mo Salah also had a storming break - firing Egypt to the World Cup next summer

Right now (15 goals in his last 10 games for club and country) he's too hot not to back and despite their struggles at their temporary home Spurs are no better than 2/9 to take the points. For a better return back them at 7/4 to win with both teams scoring while Kane is 13/8 to score two or more.

Swansea are also seeking a first home win of the season and they’re worth backing against a Huddersfield side who are winless in five after an impressive start to Premier League life. The Swans are 6/5 for the points and 3/1 to win with under 2.5 total goals in the game. 

Arsenal won four in a row before the break and should carry on where they left off by taking the points at Watford in the late kick off while Burnley against West Ham has the look of a draw.

Sunday’s action is all on the south coast as Southampton host Newcastle and Brighton entertain Everton while Monday night sees Leicester take on West Brom. 

Harry Kane and Mauricio Pochettino need to work out how to win a league game at Wembley

For this week’s anytime scorer treble, take Sterling with fit-again Leicester striker Jamie Vardy, who missed the England games, and Eden Hazard, who could play further forward in the absence of Chelsea striker Morata, for a return of 12/1. Or how about a double-double? Hazard and Kane both to score two or more returns 22/1 with Paddy Power.

Russia here we come 

England stumbled over the line to little fanfare as they stamped their ticket to the World Cup and there’s hardly great expectations about much to cheer about once they get there. You can 24/1 they end however many years of hurt it is now by lifting the trophy while defending champions Germany head the betting at 11/2. France are 6/1, Brazil and Spain are 8/1 and are Argentina 9/1 after sneaking in late. Click HERE for the full list.

*Prices from oddschecker, correct at time of publication - subject to change