Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp believes last season’s “freakish” 7-0 defeat of Manchester United is likely to act as a spur for Sunday’s opponents.
United return to Anfield at the weekend for the first time since their annihilation in March, and with an injury-hit squad seemingly in disarray following last Saturday’s 3-0 beating by Bournemouth and a midweek European exit.
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Liverpool, in contrast, go into the weekend on top of the table having won six and drawn three of their last nine league games.
It all points to another disappointing afternoon for Erik ten Hag but Klopp was quick to point out United will be desperate to right the wrongs of March’s horror show.
He said: “The 7-0 we knew on the day was a freakish result that happens once in life pretty much.
“And if it helps anybody for the next game, it’s the team who lost 7-0 and not the team who won 7-0, that’s another thing. If you take it all out of consideration then we just play a football game against the rival, the historical rival, of Liverpool FC, 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. Really understand the situation and give your all – that’s all I need.”
The boss looks ahead to Sunday’s return to Anfield for #LIVMUN 🗣️
Click to watch Jürgen Klopp’s pre-Manchester United press conference in full ⤵️
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 15, 2023
Liverpool may be top but Klopp is not getting carried away at this point of the season.
He added: “I know when in early December you are top of the table people start thinking about different things; we obviously don’t. I’m at least too long in the business that it would mean anything to me.
“It’s better than being 18th or 20th but it’s still just a position for the moment and we have to keep working extremely hard and that is so difficult when you don’t have real time for recovery, but you have to do it anyway.”
