Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has paid little attention to Manchester United’s current troubles and believes the fact his side were one of the first to expose their weaknesses is of little relevance ahead of Sunday’s encounter.
Erik ten Hag’s side were humiliated 7-0 at Anfield by their arch-rivals in March in the largest defeat for either side in the clubs’ 211-match history as United crumbled in conceding three times in a seven-minute spell either side of half-time, shipping a further four in 22 minutes late on as the hosts ran riot.
Those deficiencies have been exploited by a number of other teams this season, though not quite to the same extent, with United having lost half of their 24 matches in all competitions to ramp up the pressure on Ten Hag.
But Klopp still remains wary of the old enemy, saying: “I never like when the headlines about United are not great before we play because it’s like ‘OK, then it is the game where they can put everything right’.
But Klopp still remains wary of the old enemy, saying: “I never like when the headlines about United are not great before we play because it’s like ‘OK, then it is the game where they can put everything right’.
Ten Hag’s sixth-placed side are already 10 points behind Liverpool, the current leaders, and an eighth Premier League defeat of the campaign would almost certainly end already distant hopes of reeling in their rivals.
But Klopp insists inflicting more pain on their long-time adversaries is not a motivating factor.
“No. I have to think if I ever did that… I would probably say no. There is one thing we go for and that’s three points on a match day,” he added.
“If something helps for motivation? If it would be round about four matchdays before the end of the season and with that we could make the last step I would probably mention it but in this situation that’s just not important.
“The 7-0 we knew that day it was a freak result that happens once in a lifetime. If it helps anyone for the next game it is the team who lost 7-0 and not the team who won 7-0.
“If you take it all out of consideration and just play a football game against the historical rival of Liverpool at home at Anfield that itself must make it a special game and that’s what I want to see from us, a special game.
“It is a home game. It is for the people. We know what it means. No-one would expect us not to care. We care a lot (but) we cannot go nuts before the game already.”
Klopp’s main selection decision is around who to pair with Virgil van Dijk at centre-back with Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez having a half each alongside impressive 20-year-old Jarell Quansah in the 2-1 Europa League defeat to Union Saint Gilloise.
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Paul Merson thinks Jurgen Klopp is about to start 22-year-old Liverpool star vs Man United
Jurgen Klopp is set to make a change to his midfield for Liverpool’s game against Manchester United on Sunday.
Klopp has rotated the middle three of his team around a fair bit this season. And with Alexis Mac Allister still missing through injury, the manager is going to have to pivot again for this weekend’s game.
Disregarding the experimental three against Union Saint-Gilloise last night, Liverpool’s midfield against Crystal Palace last Saturday was: Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai.
But according to pundit Paul Merson, there’ll be a new face in there against United. Writing for Sportskeeda yesterday, Merson has predicted that Curtis Jones will be the man asked to step in.
“I expect Liverpool to rip them to shreds, so I’m going for a 3-0 home win,” says the former England midfielder.
“Alexis Mac Allister is a massive injury doubt, but Jurgen Klopp has a few options to choose from in midfield. Wataru Endo has played a few games recently and Harvey Elliott’s cameos have been impressive, but I think Curtis Jones is someone who knows how big this game is, so I expect him to start at Anfield.”
Merson predicts Jones return
Jones was one of those who started – and actually played the full 90 minutest – in Belgium last night.
That doesn’t necessarily rule him out of Sunday’s game, but we’d be surprised to see him go again.
The 22-year-old looked rusty against Union Saint-Gilloise. He may have claimed an assist for Jarell Quansah’s goal, but he was at fault for USG’s opener and generally didn’t take his chance to impress.
Again, that doesn’t mean Klopp won’t fancy Jones against United. The boss does seem to like using the Scouser is big games and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him favour Curtis again.
However, the England U21 international isn’t actually in great form at the minute. Stats-wise, he’s now registered assists in back-to-back games. But he hasn’t looked like the player we saw at the back end of last season.
One thing that probably does work in Jones’ favour is that Klopp doesn’t have great options at the moment.
Szoboszlai is a nailed-on starter, while we’d probably expect to see Gravenberch again, too. But without Mac Allister, Jurgen has a decision to make in defensive midfield.
Given the form of Endo over the past two games, it isn’t an easy call to make. Maybe Merson will end up being right after all.
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