Man United face Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday, with the Reds currently 10 points ahead of their rivals.
The last time Manchester United did the double over Liverpool in a Premier League campaign was 2015/16. The last time the Reds defeated the Merseyside club in the league, prior to this season, was 2018. In recent years, it has been Jurgen Klopp’s men coming out on top, but this term, Erik ten Hag’s men can put an end to that.….CONTINUE READING
United’s 2-1 victory over Liverpool in August last year came after they had lost to Brighton and Brentford in Ten Hag’s first two matches as manager. After the Reds’ underwhelming start to the campaign, Klopp’s side were favourites to come to Old Trafford and win.
However, the Reds, despite having 29 per cent possession, were the side that triumphed. It was a victory that kick-started United’s season, and despite a heavy loss to Manchester City in the derby, Ten Hag’s men have not really looked back since.
Now, seven months after the win over Liverpool, United are preparing to face their bitter rivals once again. This time, however, it is the Reds who go into the game full of confidence – having won the Carabao Cup and boasting a 10-point lead over the Merseyside club in the Premier League table.
United are the only side in England that can still win four trophies this term, while Liverpool, on the other hand, are in a battle to finish inside the top four and face an uphill fight to qualify for the next round of the Champions League.
In May 2022 – even before properly beginning his reign as United manager – Ten Hag said he hoped to end the dominance of City and Liverpool in the Premier League. United finished 35 points behind Pep Guardiola’s champions last season, and 34 behind Klopp’s men. Despite this, the Dutchman, after being presented as the new permanent manager, insisted the top two could be toppled.
“In this moment, I admire them both, Manchester City and Liverpool,” Ten Hag said. “They both play really fantastic football, both Liverpool and Man City. But you will always see an era can come to an end and I am looking forward to battle with them, and I am sure all the other Premier League clubs will want to do that.
“I’ve already met big coaches and big teams in the Premier League and I know how to deal with that. But it’s clear, the Premier League is the biggest league in the world I think and I’m looking forward to battling with them.”
Since 2019, Liverpool have won a total of seven trophies. In that same period, City have won eight honours. Evidently, United are behind in recent years – having lifted just one piece of silverware since 2017, which was the Carabao Cup on Sunday.
While Liverpool and City have set the standard for the other Premier League teams in recent years, this season shows that other sides – namely United and Arsenal – are capable of getting involved in the fight. Admittedly, Klopp’s men are somewhat struggling this term, but both they and Guardiola’s side still have the chance to taste success.
United have not defeated Liverpool twice in a Premier League campaign since 2015/16. That season, the Reds won 3-1 at Old Trafford and 1-0 at Anfield. When Ten Hag’s side come up against the Merseyside club on Sunday afternoon, they will have the chance to do the double over their rivals, and prove that they are well and truly on course to achieve their manager’s initial aim.
Ten Hag was confident that he could transform the fortunes at Old Trafford, and he is doing exactly that. A win over Liverpool would go a long way in United’s quest for an unprecedented quadruple, but also demonstrate that the Dutchman was right to believe in his side, even without having worked with them at that point.….CONTINUE READING
