Jurgen Klopp has admitted last season’s 7-0 win over Manchester United was a ‘freakish result’ for Liverpool and has downplayed their rival’s poor form this season.
Liverpool renew rivalries with Manchester United in the Premier League this weekend, with the latter looking to avenge a record-breaking loss at Anfield last season. Klopp’s side recorded the biggest ever win in this fixture, and inflicted the joint-heaviest defeat in United’s history in March.
Manchester United arrive on Merseyside after a challenging start to the campaign under Erik ten Hag, but Klopp has talked down the significance of recent form and last season’s seven-goal win.
“I never like when the headlines about United are not great before we play because then it is the game where they can put everything right,” Klopp said at his pre-match press conference.
“I don’t follow United closely enough to know what’s the problem there. But I saw Erik ten Hag became manager of the month last month, I saw they were the team in form last month. How can it be all wrong? I just don’t understand it.
“The 7-0 we knew on the day was a freakish result that happens once in a life pretty much. If it helps anybody for the next game, it’s the team who lost 7-0 and not the team who won.
“If we just play a football game against the historical rival at home at Anfield, that itself makes it a special game and that’s what I want to see – a special game.”
Asked if he would view this weekend’s game as a chance to end Manchester United’s title hopes, Klopp added: “No, I wouldn’t. There is one thing we go for and that’s three points on a matchday. All the things around that can make us this and make them that, I never understood it 100% because it takes the focus away.
“If something helps motivation, if it will be four matchdays before the end of the season and with that we could make the last step, I would probably mention it. But in this situation that’s just not important.”
