Klopp v Ten Hag
Jürgen Klopp has great respect for the turnaround Erik Ten Hag has achieved at Manchester United this season, but the Liverpool manager will have absolutely no problem bursting their bubble when they make the trip to Anfield on Sunday. And the 55-year-old tactician admitted as much at a press conference on Friday afternoon.
“They deserve it, they deserve to be where they are,” said Klopp when asked about his upcoming opponents. “They won the points and play good football. It’s not where we are this year but we were there the last few years and want to go there again.” Before adding: “Apart from that I couldn’t be less interested in what they are doing. I just respect what they do.” And there’s certainly a good chance that Liverpool could bring an end to the feel-good factor at Man Utd this weekend.
Following on from their English League Cup success over Newcastle, Ten Hag’s side are undoubtedly the in-form team in the Premier League right now. Over the course of their last 10 league games, the Red Devils have only lost one and drawn a further two, picking up an impressive 23 points from a possible 30. That’s a better return than any other team in the division and three more than reigning champions Manchester City.
However, Man Utd’s form will likely go out the window when they make the short trip to Liverpool and if history is anything to go by, Anfield has often proved to be a venue that causes more heartbreak than success. At least if the last five seasons are anything to go by. Indeed, over the course of the last 11 games at the stadium, Liverpool have won five, drawn three and lost just three. And, worryingly for Ten Hag’s side, Man Utd haven’t won at Liverpool’s home ground since January 2016.
Of course, an impressive home record only counts for something if the team are capable of winning the game and the question remains as to whether Klopp’s team have gotten over their difficulties this season and are ready to challenge big clubs for important points at this stage of the campaign. And it’s still perhaps a little too early to say for certain. For example, when we look at Liverpool’s overall home record it does point to a club that is still pretty formidable at home. To date, the Reds have only lost one of their 12 home games in this season’s Premier League, winning eight and drawing a further three. And that certainly suggests that Man Utd will have to be at their absolutely best to win this game.
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However, it’s also worth pointing out that Liverpool have really struggled against top opposition this season. So far in this league campaign they’ve lost away to Man Utd and Arsenal, while failing to beat a demoralised Chelsea at Anfield back in late January. Add to that a 3-2 loss to Man City in the League Cup back in December, a heavy defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League last week and fellow anguish to an impressive Brighton side in the league and FA Cup so far this season and it suggests that Klopp’s team do tend to struggle against quality teams. Whether Man Utd can complete the double over Liverpool on Sunday and join this growing list of clubs remains to be seen.
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