There was a time when a meeting between Manchester United and Liverpool carried the weight of title races and trophy hauls.

This Sunday at Old Trafford, the stakes are less intense, but not without intrigue.

United arrive in third position in the Premier League, three points clear of their rivals. It’s not quite champagne-on-ice territory, but a win will effectively lock in Champions League football for next season.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are navigating a different kind of pressure. Eleven points clear of sixth means their return to the Champions League for another season is also within reach, but the exact finishing order — and the narrative around their season — is to be determined.

For Arne Slot, a good result in Manchester would help smooth over a campaign that has swung between promise and frustration. Liverpool’s form has stabilised but this has still been an underwhelming campaign. Lose at Old Trafford, and the mood could sour again.

If there’s one player ready to shape the rhythm of this contest, it is likely to be Bruno Fernandes.

With 19 assists this season, he’s hovering on the brink of history as one more ties the Premier League record set by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne. Fernandes does not just create, he dictates play. Even their emotional tone is often set by him.

From a betting angle, that makes him difficult to ignore and odds of 15/2 for two or more assists with Betfair is an enticing return. At 9/4 to score anytime, he sits comfortably in a dual-threat category that makes him such a key player for this occasion.

Liverpool’s counterpoint could be Alexander Isak, whose season has been more stop-start. This would be a defining day for him to step forward.

A £125 million arrival from Newcastle United expected to transform the attack, his campaign has been interrupted by injury. With Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike unavailable for selection, Isak will need to show his golden touch.

His three league goals this campaign are some distance from the target he would have had in mind for this term but he is a player capable of a statement performance. At 13/8 to score anytime, and 9/1 for two or more, he gives Liverpool a threat that could tilt the outcome.

Old Trafford will be loud and expectant on Sunday, as United enter the fixture as favorites. But games between these two rarely follow the script. Even without silverware on the line, this match retains its ability to surprise and, more often than not, to entertain.