If you ask Jurgen Klopp, he will tell you that his primary goal when he first arrived in England was not to dethrone Manchester United.
However, as the Reds manager prepares for his farewell journey to Old Trafford, he will find few disputes that he will have succeeded at Anfield when he leaves at the end of the season, even if that success was an unintentional, but pleasant, outcome of his efforts.
With seven major accolades won during his time on Merseyside, Liverpool now has 46 to United’s 43, but Klopp will leave at the end of the season, his transformational impact far greater than the amount of silverware gathered.
Under Fenway Sports Group, the Reds have become universally considered as one of the best-run teams in the league. So, while their manager’s departure may cause some teething problems and a time of transition, Liverpool’s structure ensures that the hangover will not last long.
Michael Edwards, the previously vaunted sporting director, has returned as FSG’s new ‘CEO of football’ – a post explicitly designed for him – and the 44-year-old will return to Anfield with a bigger responsibility.
Edwards will effectively supplant Mike Gordon as Liverpool’s day-to-day manager, tasked with picking a sports director – anticipated to be Bournemouth’s Richard Hughes – and the man who would take over from Klopp in the Anfield technical department.
It’s a stark contrast to the scenario at Old Trafford under the despised Glazer family rule, despite the advent of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS firm, who have taken a 25% minority stake, which includes handling football operations.
“It’s an intense rivalry,” adds Reds captain Virgil van Dijk. “Not just the actual game, but the entire build-up is a game in and of itself, but I enjoy being engaged in these types of games, and maybe we will have a happy outcome and progress to the next round.
“United is finding ways to win, and I believe you will eventually need the points. But I’m focused on what we need to do to combat them. It’s usually challenging, heated, and there’s history between the two largest teams in England, which adds to the expectation and pressure.”
United’s decade-long malaise in the post-Alex Ferguson era has been typified by a series of disastrous transfer market moves, with hundreds of millions of pounds squandered on players who are either unsuitable, past their prime, or simply not good enough.
A slew of high-profile managers and players have come and gone with nothing to show for their efforts, and the jury is still out on Erik ten Hag after 11 Premier League losses this season.
The lack of a professional football operations department has been obvious since Ferguson’s departure, and the pursuit of Newcastle United’s Dan Ashworth is at least attempting to address this. However, it may take some time before they are as seamless as the operation overseen by one FSG at Anfield.
Unlike United, there are few such issues at Liverpool, where the coordinated efforts of experts in the correct roles have resulted in Klopp collecting every major title between 2019 and 2022, surpassing United as England’s most successful football team. Edwards’ return fuels speculation that the club will not follow in Ferguson’s footsteps now that he is no longer in charge.
That’s why there could be more at risk than just a place in the FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday afternoon in Manchester. For United, much like Liverpool’s historic 7-0 thrashing last season, beating their arch-nemesis is something to hold onto in an otherwise bleak season, a smidgeon to work with for the constantly under-pressure Ten Hag.
For the Reds, it only strengthens their unexpected quadruple charge, with another trip to Wembley scheduled for next month, and the 9,000 ticket allocation for the traveling Kop – the largest in modern history – threatening to transform Old Trafford into a little Anfield on the day itself.
Liverpool last faced United on St Patrick’s Day in 2016, in a Europa League match that saw the Reds advance 3-1 on aggregate at Old Trafford. The result was accompanied by a very loud away end on the night, and Klopp and Van Dijk are aiming for a repeat performance this weekend.
“I always prefer home games but if it is an away game then [I prefer] the FA Cup,” Klopp said. “You have a larger allotment; you can accommodate more individuals. We also played Arsenal away in the FA Cup, which was exciting.
“We all know that the away crowd is real, that they are constantly present, and that it takes a lot of effort to get there. Manchester is a little closer, but we can play wherever. The away fans will be on their toes, which is crucial because Old Trafford can create a unique atmosphere, so the more we have to compete with that, the better.
“Overall, it’s a good spot to visit. It’s serious football; it’s all or nothing, a cup competition, followed by the league in a few weeks. Now it’s all about the cup, which will be decided on that particular day. It sounds terrific.”
Van Dijk adds, “Hopefully, it will be a big help because I believe their fanbase will try to create a hostile environment for us.” At the end of the day, we have to play our game, which may also be used to manipulate their fans as well as our own.
“The support does not go ignored; we greatly appreciate it wherever we travel; the support is fantastic, and we will need it for the rest of the season. There aren’t many games left in the season, but the mood versus City, for example, was incredible, so why not do it every time and hope to celebrate wonderful things in the end.”
