LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp admits he hasn’t stopped facing competitive Manchester United but, while he respects his counterpart Erik ten Hag’s Old Trafford revolution, “couldn’t be less interested” in their achievements.
United arrive at Anfield tomorrow looking to score a double over their arch-rivals for the first time since January 2016, which was Klopp’s first meeting with them.
And after last season’s 9-0 aggregate victory for Liverpool, things have changed slightly, with United now on the rise and their 23 points amassed after the World Cup, the most of any team in the league. competition, having lost just three of their last 22. league games and won the League Cup.
Klopp’s side, by contrast, have been struggling throughout the campaign, and although they have steadied the ship with three wins and a draw in their last four league games, third-placed United still have the edge over them facing the game.
“Great, United are doing well. I didn’t miss them,” Klopp said with a laugh as he punched the air.
“I can imagine how annoying it was in the last few years when we were there and everyone was talking about ‘Klopp did this and Klopp is doing that.’ Earring. And they are bringing young players.’ It’s really ‘ugh’ (poking fingers down throat).
“They deserve it, they deserve where they are. They won the points, they played good football like everyone else too.
“This is not where we are this year, but we were there the last few years and we want to go there again, 100 percent.
“But other than that, I couldn’t be less interested in what they’re doing. I just respect what they do and then analyze it.
“Yes, they have played a better season than us so far, but thank God that means absolutely nothing for the game on Sunday.
“We have our own goals and, yes, it would be a boost (for our best four chances), 100 percent, but we have to make sure that we really show that it’s still incredibly difficult to play against us.
“When we played there (in a 2-1 loss in August) it looked incredibly difficult to play against them, but we have to make sure they realize again that it’s not a joy to play against each other.”
The longstanding rivalry between England’s two most successful clubs means that the match will always have an advantage: “It’s THE game,” according to Klopp, regardless of their respective league positions.
But that animosity aside, the Liverpool manager was still able to praise United striker Marcus Rashford for the way he bounced back from looking like he had no future at Old Trafford after a couple of poor seasons.
“First of all, it is difficult, almost impossible, to be happy about something positive at Manchester United when you are the manager of Liverpool for seven and a half years,” he said.
“It’s not like I look at them and hope they win or whatever, but I’m very happy for Rashford.
“He had a really tough year when he obviously wasn’t performing at the level that he’s capable of, and he knew that this would change again, but sometimes in life you don’t have enough time to change it.
“But here he is and now he’s playing unbelievably.”
Klopp is still without centre-back Joe Gomez, midfielder Thiago Alcantara (hip) and striker Luis Diaz (knee), and is likely to refresh his midfield after playing teenagers Stefan Bajcetic and Harvey Elliott on either side of Fabinho. in the midweek win over Wolves. .