“It’s one of most important things because you’re only here because you’re interested in it, you’re interested because it’s a ideal game in my opinion”. Louis van Gaal is very well aware that a defeat at Anfield Road could mark an end of his tenure, and is under serious pressure as he prepares for the match.
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And, while Klopp was full of praise for the Dutchman, he admitted the two contrast when it comes down to their footballing philosophies.
He does, though, accept a better defensive performance will be needed against Louis van Gaal’s United. “He has a special idea of football and as an opponent you have to respect this”, he said.
“I’m anxious about him because one thing United don’t want is Liverpool to be above us”.
Ultimately, Sunday’s game is there to be won by the side who are willing to show the most courage. “A lot of people can talk about it. I like football because of the moments you enjoy – goals, challenges, headers, the atmosphere in the stadium”.
Liverpool harbour top-four aspirations of their own and they will be encouraged by United’s substandard defending at Newcastle in twice allowing leads to slip away, albeit just as they did against the Gunners.
“I had really good moments with Sir Alex”, he revealed. For a manager it’s almost the best thing you can do, to sit there and listen.
Liverpool and Manchester United return to action at Anfield on Sunday, January 17 after both recovering from separate goal-fests in the middle of the week.
Klopp, whose team are three points adrift of van Gaal’s men, said Friday: “I am not too close with the news about Manchester United in the last week”.
“We concede one goal and it felt like the end of the world”, he said after Southampton’s 86th-minute equaliser in October, while “Eighty-two minutes – game over” was his response when Crystal Palace scored a victor eight minutes from time a fortnight later. We both want to be successful. That’s possible. You don’t need to think too much about motivation in these games, but you need the balance.
“Sometimes you have to make a step back so you can do the next step in the right direction”. We are closer than we were a few weeks ago but it is not only our job.
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Others were more concerned with who United’s current boss could be compared with… “We have to watch what we can find out and make a plan”.
