The only time my footballing belly fires up even more in the Premier League than on Sunday is when Manchester United go to Anfield, but Liverpool going to Old Trafford is a close second, writes Mark Keohane.
I’d consider myself a Liverpool supporter with a difference because I don’t take pleasure from Manchester United’s failures, only if they come against Liverpool. I have always acknowledged the brilliance of those champion United teams, the consistency and success under Sir Alex Ferguson, the individual talents that have come through United’s academy system or those big-name players who have been lured to Old Trafford because of the success of the club.
This rivalry has often taken the form book and ripped it up and one would learn more from the history of clashes between the two sides than how they have been shaping in the league this season. If you glanced at the table, then it has to be Liverpool, but in this instance don’t glance at the table, but rather understand the rivalry. In the past seven league matches, Liverpool have won two, United have won one and four have been drawn, with no goals scored in three of those draws and the fourth draw ending one-all.Liverpool’s attack under Klopp has always been potent but somehow it gets nullified when they make the trip to Old Trafford and even when they host United at Anfield.
Form suggests it is all favouring Klopp but history again tells another story. The two have faced each other six times and Klopp has won two, Solskjaer one and three have been drawn, with their most recent League match, a 4-2 Liverpool win, giving Klopp the advantage.