Ten Hag’s first assignment at Anfield as United face archrivals Liverpool

Manchester United are on a mission to capitalize on Liverpool’s weaknesses this season as they travel to face their traditional rivals in a do-or-die battle at Anfield on Sunday at 7:30 p.m.

The Red Devils, apart from increasing their chances for the Premier League titles and minimizing the 14-point gap to leaders Arsenal, want to break the spell of not defeating Liverpool at Anfield since the days of Wayne Rooney in January 2016, when they won 1-0.

Man United are also dreadful, having been humiliated 9-0 on aggregate by their opponents from Merseyside.

Manager Eric Ten Hag is optimistic, but he knows what a tough hurdle it is for his players to cross.

“I’m looking forward to it, the ambience, the atmosphere. It will be great; it will be hostile against us, but we like that. I know these players, my squad, my team, will be prepared to go there and fight and to go there with confidence. We know it’s going to be difficult; we know we will have to suffer and we will have to sacrifice to get a good result,” he said.

Liverpool, on the other hand, are aiming for the top four, being just six points behind Tottenham in the race for the Champions League and with two games in hand.

The Jurgen Klopp led team have improved in form, at least in their last four Premier League matches, in which they won three and drew one.

“We are still in the season now. It’s always a pattern; never does it always go so consistently. It’s fluid, and I am sure Liverpool have really good management, a really good playing philosophy, and a really good strategy. We are aware of that, but we are not talking about other clubs.

“We are talking about us, and I think we are in a good direction and with our philosophy, strategy and culture, we have to keep making progress. It’s all about that,” said Klopp.

WKT Reporter

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