Reds will push forward, United may return to cautious approach

If Van Gaal-or whoever might potentially succeed him next term-does not correct the club’s player purchasing, United will spend many years in the wilderness, just as they did when Sir Matt Busby exited the Theatre of Dreams at the end of the 1960s.

The Reds meet their fierce rivals in the Premier League at Anfield as Jurgen Klopp takes charge of his first Liverpool vs Manchester United fixture.

Klopp has had a number of fall-outs with Premier League counterparts already this season, on Wednesday Arsene Wenger was added to a list which includes Sam Allardyce, Tony Pulis and Alan Pardew, but he has nothing but admiration for the former United boss – who once gleefully exclaimed his greatest challenge “was knocking Liverpool right off their perch”.

“We need to be aggressive but also under control. These games always mean more to the fans and of course the players on the pitch”.

In their first meeting of the season, United triumphed 3-1 at Old Trafford with Anthony Martial scoring the victor.

“It is not the biggest game in terms of the table – if you went on the table it would be Arsenal against Leicester”, Klopp said.

“You can see his hand and that is very important when he is the manager”, Van Gaal said. As a player you feel the pressure because these games give you something special. I don’t know Louis too well but we have met a few times and had a few intensive games, that’s for sure.

Coincidentally both sides go into the game on the back of 3-3 draws in midweek, with Liverpool snatching a point against Arsenal and United blowing a two-goal lead at Newcastle.

Although Klopp would not criticise Van Gaal’s approach, which has angered United fans, he insists it is not a way he can operate. I think we are all on the way and we are trying to improve.

“It may make it very hard then for Liverpool to get into the top four”.

The Spain worldwide was close to moving to the Bernabeu last summer, but the deal fell through at the last minute as paperwork was not filed by the transfer deadline. They say that in Manchester it’s not good to talk about Liverpool and in Liverpool it’s not good to talk about Manchester United.

“I don’t think that kind of thing plays in the mind of David De Gea and I have never thought about it”, he said. It is very tight to regain – he needs more time, I think. “That was in the period before the transfer period, but now I am seeing David De Gea who is enjoying being here at Manchester United and playing good games”.