Erik ten Hag is “looking forward” to playing Liverpool after Jurgen Klopp comments

Erik ten Hag has been speaking about his excitement to play Liverpool ahead of Manchester United’s visit to Anfield on Sunday afternoon.

Manchester United return to Premier League action after playing three cup games in a row, which resulted in a victory over Barcelona, a first domestic trophy in six years after defeating Newcastle United, and Alejandro Garnacho’s brilliant winning goal against West Ham sending Erik ten Hag’s men into the quarter-finals of the competition.

Manchester United have faced Liverpool once already this season, with Ten Hag recording his first victory as manager of the club back at Old Trafford against Klopp’s side in August.

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Speaking to the press on Friday afternoon ahead of the tie, Ten Hag expressed his excitement to play against Liverpool at Anfield.

“I’ve been to Anfield, yes. I’m looking forward (to it), I know the ambience, the atmosphere will be great. It will be hostile against us, and we like it,” he said.

“It is, of course, a test,” Ten Hag continued. “But we’re facing Liverpool and we’re really looking forward (to it), I know these players, my squad, my team will be prepared to go and fight, to go with confidence but we know it’s going to be difficult.

“We know we have to suffer, we have to sacrifice to get a good result.”

Manchester United have not won at Anfield in seven years, with many posing that United’s brilliant form combined with Liverpool’s recent struggles pose the greatest chance the club have had yet to end their barren run at the famed ground.

“I think away from home we’ve had really good performances,” Ten Hag said on the matter. “It’s no different; the pitch is the same size, the ball is round, there’s air in the ball, eh! We have to play and make it our game.”

These quotes come after Jurgen Klopp claimed that he is not assessing Manchester United as any more of a routine fixture, despite the Red Devils’ recent brilliant performances.

“I couldn’t be less interested in what Man Utd are doing, I just respect it,” he told the press on Friday morning. “I see them when we analyse them and we will try to cause more problems than (the August game).”

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He continued, saying: “They have had a better season so far but thank God it means absolutely nothing on Sunday. We have to make sure we show it is still incredibly difficult to play against us. We have to make sure they realise that.”

Speaking on United’s recent Carabao Cup win, Klopp recognised that it would have been a great feeling for United, but echoed Ten Hag’s message that they need to keep going as there is little time to celebrate.

” They won the League Cup. A wonderful feeling but no time to celebrate. It has nothing to do with us. They are a results machine.”

One aspect of the club that Klopp could not help but comment on was the brilliant form of Marcus Rashford in recent months.

“It’s pretty much impossible to be happy about something positive at Manchester United when you are the Liverpool manager,” Klopp said. “But I am really happy for Rashford because he had a very difficult last year where he was not performing on the level that he is able to perform.

“Now he is playing incredible. His speed, his technique – it is a mix of everything, how calm he is in front of goal, he scores ‘worldies’, he scores the simple ones.”