Van Gaal Warns United Players Vs Liverpool, Praises Klopp, Rules Out Bastian

“You can see it on the faces of the players: previous year, for example, Gerrard came in and was sent off within 30 seconds”.

United’s form dip since they were briefly on top of the division in November has seen the Reds win just nine points from a possible 24 in eight critical matches and leaves them facing an uphill battle to bring the league trophy back to Old Trafford in May. You have to defend well because they have brilliant players. It is very tight to regain – he needs more time, I think.

He said: “I can not imagine that shall happen”.

“You can see his hand and that is very important when he is the manager”, Van Gaal said.

He tipped Jurgen Klopp to do well in England. That is it. You are in April and you are in the middle of the planning for next season. But as you say when it is happening to Liverpool it can happen also to Manchester United.

“I have felt it (the rivalry) already four times, on the tour of the U.S. and in the league”, added Van Gaal.

“I think it’s much more hard to win the Premier League than 10 years ago”, Van Gaal argued. We have to prepare ourselves our utmost best and go from our own qualities and play the game from there.”Could a victory at Anfield provide the team with a big boost for the games ahead?” Everything is so close in the table; we are only nine points off the top.

Bayern chiefs claimed the miserable football Van Gaal was promoting could no longer be tolerated at their club as he was sacked soon after a defeat against Klopp’s Dortmund and some are suggesting a similar scenario could be played out if Liverpool beat United this weekend. “All I am seeing is a player who is enjoying staying here and playing good games”. We need to be aggressive, but also under control in these kind of matches. Usually, rough tackling and strong play dominates the game, and emotions are high for the full 90 minutes.

Van Gaal is once again set to be without Bastian Schweinsteiger and Phil Jones but Adnan Januzaj could feature from the bench following his return from a loan spell in Germany. “I think things will look up there, I really do”.

Spurs, who are now seven points behind the leaders, host relegation-threatened Sunderland in Saturday’s early kick-off with Sunderland buoyed by a 4-2 win at Swansea City on Wednesday with former Spurs favourite Jermain Defoe scoring a hat-trick.