A draw, or better, would move Jürgen Klopp's men ahead of current leaders Manchester City, with 11 league games left to play until the end of the season.
The Reds beat United 3-1 at Anfield earlier this term but there is a new man in the United dugout - the third Red Devils manager Klopp will have faced since arriving at Liverpool in 2015 - and new impetus on the pitch.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's attack-minded approach has yielded eight victories during a nine-match unbeaten run in the league and Sunday's encounter against a Liverpool side that have outscored all but City this season threatens to be a real thriller.