LIVERPOOL: Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp described Tuesday’s game with Manchester United as a clash between “two of the biggest clubs in the world” and said his team were in for a stern test despite the opposition’s struggles this season.

Second-placed Liverpool trail Premier League leaders Manchester City by one point while United are fifth, three points behind Tottenham Hotspur who occupy the last Champions League spot.

“It’s a big game, a massive game, two of the biggest clubs in the world. Always we have to learn to deal with it,” Klopp told reporters on Monday.

“The Man United we will face, they will go for it. They want to go to the Champions League. It will be an intense 90 minutes... it’s an incredibly important game again for both teams. That says it all. Both teams are fighting.”

The German also commended his opposite number Ralf Rangnick for the job he had done since taking over on an interim basis at Old Trafford last year.

“I haven’t spoken to him since he has been in England out of respect, but you can see the changes he has made there and the parts he has improved,” said Klopp of his compatriot.

“I think Ralf tried to organise them with a clear structure. That is what he did. United have played some really good games, but even when they win, it’s difficult to gain momentum. But they concede less now for sure.”

Liverpool can go top with victory over their old rivals, who they thrashed 5-0 at Old Trafford earlier in the season, and are overwhelming favourites to inflict more misery on United and take another step towards a potential quadruple of trophies.

Klopp’s men have already won the League Cup, will face Chelsea in the FA Cup final next month and take on Villarreal in the Champions League semi-finals.

But club captain Virgil van Dijk said talk of a historic quadruple belongs to the “outside world” and risks putting extra pressure on the Dutchman and his team-mates.

“Nobody did the quadruple and there is a reason for it — because it is almost impossible to do,” said Van Dijk. “All this talk about quadruple or treble is from the outside world and could put extra pressure on us.

“It is something that everyone would dream about, to win every competition you participate in, but we will see what it brings. Anything can happen, with other teams as well.”

Liverpool on paper face the tougher run-in for the Premier League title with old rivals Everton also visiting Anfield this week desperate for points in their battles to avoid relegation.

United manager Rangnick, ,meanwhile, urged his side to display more defensive solidity ahead of a crucial run-in that will determine Champions League qualification and likely define his tenure as interim boss.

Rangnick, who succeeded Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November last year, has struggled to turn around United’s season following a dismal start.

They needed a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick to see off bottom-of-the-table Norwich 3-2 on Saturday, but defeats for Arsenal and Tottenham have given Rangnick’s men new life in the fight for a place in the top four.

“It’s only about our situation and after last weekend’s results we are still in the race for the top four,” Rangnick told reporters on Monday. “In order to stay in that race, we have to win almost every game, starting with tomorrow.

“We need to be more compact, we need to find the right balance of what we do in possession of the ball and what we need to do in order to defend our own goal.

“For sure, we need to be more compact, more aggressive... this is what we need to show tomorrow against a team that is probably one of the best in creating moments which they can be dangerous from in and around the box. We need to be at our very best defensively.”

Rangnick said that Liverpool will start as favourites but his side were capable of causing an upset.

“Although we might be the underdogs for most people, we still know that if we raise our level, if we play a top performance, then we have a chance to get three points. This will be our ambition and goal for tomorrow,” he added.

The German confirmed that midfielder Bruno Fernandes was involved in a car crash earlier on Monday but escaped unhurt and will be available against Liverpool.

“Yes, he was training with the team, obviously the accident happened on the way to Carrington. As far as I know, no one was injured. He was okay and he’ll be okay for tomorrow,” he said.

Defender Raphael Varane, however, is likely to miss out again after having sat out the last two league games due to a muscle problem.

“He didn’t train with the team, he was on the pitch with one of our rehab coaches. In regard to injuries, we have the same situation as we had in the last two games,” added Rangnick.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2022