Is Man Utd curse ready to end Liverpool’s 38-game unbeaten run after downing Arsenal’s Invincibles and Jose’s Chelsea?
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MANCHESTER UNITED travel to Liverpool on Sunday with a hat-trick of fallen giants in their sights.
With the unbeaten runs of Arsenal's Invincibles and Jose Mourinho's Chelsea ended by the Red Devils in years gone by, the third-longest streak in Premier League history could be next.
Liverpool boast a 38-game stint that dates back to a win at Brighton almost 12 months ago to the day.
And now the threat of the United curse lingers over Anfield and Jurgen Klopp's imperious title favourites.
In fact, their October trip to Old Trafford saw the run come under its biggest threat as Adam Lallana had to rescue a 1-1 draw just five minutes from time.
That game did end the Reds' 17-game winning streak, just one match short of Manchester City's Prem record.
But the top spot of the unbeaten leaderboard is now seemingly within grasp.
Chelsea strung together 40 games without defeat across 2004 and 2005 as Mourinho led them to consecutive titles.
Top of the tree are Arsenal, with their Invincibles season of 2003/04 forming much of their 49 match spell to October of that year - when Chelsea's run began.
What do those two runs have in common? United ended them.
The infamous Battle of the Buffet unfolded in the Red Devils' favour as Ruud van Nistelrooy put his penalty demons against the Gunners aside with a 73rd-minute opener before Wayne Rooney sealed the win in stoppage time.
Mike Riley's decision to hand United the spot-kick was criticised by many and a fight broke out in the Old Trafford tunnel - Cesc Fabregas lobbing a pizza at Sir Alex Ferguson.
It is fair to say the victory to end Chelsea's streak in November 2005 was less controversial.
The Blues were 40 games unbeaten when heading to Manchester, where Darren Fletcher's looping header secured a 1-0 win.
RED ALERT
Liverpool will be clear favourites when welcoming their rivals to Merseyside on Sunday while currently 14 points clear at the top of the table.
Yet the visitors have only suffered one defeat in five Premier League trips to Anfield - a run that extends to one in seven when including Old Trafford encounters.
That one Liverpool win was certainly significant as Mourinho was sacked after the 3-1 loss to Klopp's men in December 2018.
But Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has manufactured a team that is relatively decent against the top sides, with a counter-attacking style suited to being under a bit more pressure.
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Arsenal downed United at the Emirates last month but Manchester City, Tottenham, Chelsea and Leicester have all lost to the Norwegian this season.
Of course, defeat certainly does not mean Liverpool would collapse and surrender their huge title race lead.
Chelsea bounced back from their streak ending to win ten straight games and that year's Premier League.
Although Arsenal won only one of their next five matches en route to finishing 12 points off the pace.