Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has shown little concern for Manchester United’s current struggles. He believes that the fact his team exposed their weaknesses in a previous encounter holds little significance before their upcoming Sunday match.
In a significant 7-0 victory at Anfield in March, Erik ten Hag’s side suffered their largest defeat against their arch-rivals in their 211-match history. This defeat revealed vulnerabilities in United’s gameplay, although similar weaknesses have been exploited by other teams this season, albeit not to the same extent. United’s performance, losing half of their 24 matches in all competitions, has intensified pressure on Ten Hag.
However, Klopp remains cautious of underestimating their old rivals. He stated, “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’. The more bad things people say about them, the stronger they will show up. That is always the case. I don’t like that.”
Despite acknowledging United’s recent struggles, Klopp refrains from delving deeply into their issues, focusing primarily on preparing his team. He acknowledges the importance of understanding the opponent’s situation before a match but emphasizes concentrating on Liverpool’s game plan rather than analyzing the adversary excessively.
Regarding the previous 7-0 victory over United, Klopp views it as a unique and rare result. He believes it may serve as motivation for the team that suffered the defeat rather than for the victors.
For Klopp, the upcoming match against their historical rival at Anfield remains special in itself, aiming to deliver a strong performance. He stresses the significance of securing three points rather than focusing solely on previous victories or inflicting further pain on their opponents.
Regarding team selection, Klopp faces decisions regarding his center-back pairing alongside Virgil van Dijk, contemplating between Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez following their recent Europa League match.
