LIVERPOOL vs MAN UTD: A LOOK BACK – Jurgen Klopp was beaten by Manchester United the first time he ever welcomed them as Liverpool manager – Arne Slot will be determined not to preside over a repeat at Anfield
LIVERPOOL vs MAN UTD: A LOOK BACK – Jurgen Klopp was beaten by Manchester United the first time he ever welcomed them as Liverpool manager – Arne Slot will be determined not to preside over a repeat at Anfield LIVERPOOL vs MAN UTD: A LOOK BACK – Jurgen Klopp was beaten by Manchester United the first time he ever welcomed them as Liverpool manager – Arne Slot will be determined not to preside over a repeat at Anfield
Jurgen Klopp admitted he couldn’t be very positive when he watched Liverpool lose against Manchester United in January 2016, but if he knew what was coming maybe he’d have been happier.
Because we’re now nine years on, and that victory for the Red Devils is still their last at Anfield. They’ve only scored once in that time, that goal coming from Jesse Lingard, but it was the iconic German manager who was left with his head bowed when Wayne Rooney, not for the first time, silenced the Kop.
Klopp was two only months into his reign when he welcomed the Manchester outfit to the stadium that would become his fortress. Back then though it was certainly penetrable and Louis van Gaal masterminded another victory over Liverpool.
Arne Slot will get his first chance to sample the Liverpool – Manchester rivalry in a home game at Anfield this Sunday. He can already boast a 3-0 win at Old Trafford on his CV, but keeping their rivals from enjoying the bragging rights is a task Klopp initially failed at.
It was a list of unwanted firsts for the former manager, who went on to enjoy a stunning record against United. But when Rooney secured the Manchester smash and grab the ex-Borussia Dortmund boss was left to digest a first ever loss at Anfield.
It was also the first time his team had failed to score at their Merseyside base as a line-up that featured Roberto Firmino, James Milner and Adam Lallana as its front three were stifled by United.
In the weeks leading up to the game Van Gaal had seen his team slip out of Premier League title contention, winning just two of their last 11 games. Liverpool meanwhile had dealt eventual champions Leicester City a rare defeat, scored four in a win at Manchester City and held Arsenal in a six-goal thriller.
Going in as favourites did little to help the hosts, even if Klopp was at a loss to explain how they were on the wrong side of the result. “I didn’t see too many chances for Manchester United and we didn’t take ours,” he said. “Of course it is frustrating. We lost a game that we should not have lost.”
Klopp has right, Rooney scored with United’s only shot on target. The victory also secured Van Gaal a second successive win at Anfield and a fourth straight victory over Liverpool. For all his difficulties, which ended with him being sacked months later, the Dutchman can say he had a 100 percent win record over United’s great rivals.
Parallels ahead of this weekend then can certainly be drawn. United had won two of 11 heading into the 2016 encounter. Currently they’re on a run of just three wins in 11, but they’ve lost five of their last six.
Man Utd’s recent record at Anfield
October 2016 – 0-0 D
October 2017 – 0-0 D
December 2018 – 3-1 L
January 2020 – 2-0 L
January 2021 – 0-0 D
April 2022 – 4-0 L
March 2023 – 7-0 L
December 2023 – 0-0 D
Liverpool across the same time span have won eight with the other three being draws. They look relentless but Slot’s mood could easily drop if Ruben Amorim can secure a shock three points this weekend. If he is to do so he may well take a look at the Van Gaal playbook.
It will need to be another smash and grab with the Reds expected to dominate proceedings and further extend their stunning recent record at Anfield. Since that loss nine years ago Liverpool have won four and lost four – but their victories have included wins by four goals and seven goals.
Slot picked apart United’s tactics after the win at Old Trafford earlier this season, speaking openly about how Liverpool exposed their opponent’s weaknesses. He told Sky Sports how his team knew their full-backs would stay high, meaning Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz were constantly in one-on-one situations if they could turnover possession.
The Dutchman is now tasked with unpicking a new system, one that Amorim has bought in. The ex-Sporting Lisbon boss has endured a forgettable few weeks but won’t change his style, which has already been exploited by numerous teams.
Stranger things than a United win at Anfield have happened though, even if this team are seemingly at rock bottom with their manager himself talking about relegation. Van Gaal was by no means loved at Old Trafford, if anything his style of play turned the supporters away.
If the Dutchman proved one thing though it is that a win over Liverpool, especially on the road, banks you a serious amount of credit. Amorim’s only win in the last six league encounters was at Manchester City.
Slot has the cards in his favour, he just needs to ensure the Manchester outfit don’t pull off the ultimate bluff at Anfield.
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