Internet Desk: The most passionately bitter rivalry in English football promises another mouth-watering contest on Monday night, as Liverpool to host Manchester United at Anfield. More than just the battle on the ground, the game has a rich history and rivalry between, the fans, the pride, the heritage and of course, for this game on Monday, the combat between two most charismatic managers in the world these days- Jose Mourinho & Jurgen Klopp.
The confidence, tactics, attitude & managerial style of Klopp and Mourinho has taken this much awaited game to a different height.
Tactics
One of the biggest strengths Jurgen Klopp has brought to Liverpool is the commitment to a fluid attacking game. Liverpool forwards press the opposition in their defensive third, with a constant attempt to win the ball back in dangerous zones.
If the Liverpool Manager’s style is evident and still being refined, then Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United project is still in its nascent stages.
Mourinho has tended to play Paul Pogba, the ultimate example of the modern hybrid midfielder, in a midfield two, first with Marouane Fellaini and now, more successfully, with Spaniard Ander Herrera, who has cemented his place with some tremendous performances ever since he got his chance.
United won its first three league fixtures with Wayne Rooney as a number 10, that run of form, and Rooney’s starting spot, were never going to last and so a narrow derby defeat, followed by a humiliating 3-1 defeat to Watford, forced Mourinho’s hand.
With Rooney dropped, Juan Mata occupies the creative position behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but his is more of a skimming role than a threader of passes. The slick interplay, and finish, against Leicester, showed what Mourinho is seeking out of Juan Mata.
When Pogba strides forward either to shoot from range or play a forward pass leading to a chance, United’s lack of a traditional holding midfielder can become glaring. Klopp will look to exploit that weakness by sending his runners in behind the base of the United midfield, leaving the back four exposed. If that happens on a regular basis, Mourinho is in trouble. But as we all know, “The Special One” strikes “surgically” back when he and his team are highly criticized. Mourinho must be waiting for this stage to show why he and his brand are so special.
The Transfers
Jose Mourinho made the biggest crater of the summer, signing the “prodigal son” Pogba for a whooping £89 million. United will see a return on its investment, though it will take time and may be harder to discern in actual terms than the output of a multi-million pound striker like, say, Gonzalo Higuain.
Mourinho’s best signing for United, though, has been Eric Bailly. The towering Ivorian central defender can be a little rash on occasion, he remains inexperienced at the top level, but his reading of the game, composure on the ball and brute physical strength suggest already that United has finally found a worthy successor to Nemanja Vidic or Rio Ferdinand.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic began imperiously, though he was less impressive against Stoke, missing a handful of chances in the opening minutes of that game. If Mourinho had a central forward to push Ibrahimovic for his place, he would be happier, but Marcus Rashford is better on the left wing for now and Anthony Martial is only just finding his rhythm again after a difficult beginning in the new season.
As with Pogba, there would have been a little scoffing when Klopp paid £34 million for Mane from Southampton.
But the 24-year-old Senegalese has raised his game to a height where he can be considered not only Liverpool’s best signing of the summer but one of the Premier League’s best, too. Three goals and an assist in seven games has gone some way already to paying off his fee.
Managerial style
Klopp has always been savvy. The first time he came to the attention as Mainz manager at the time of the 2006 FIFA World Cup back in Germany, when he worked as a football pundit. Such is his knowledge of the game. Klopp is hugely demanding of his players but he is more likely to put an arm around their shoulders than bawl them out.
Mourinho’s classic tactic through his successful managerial career has undoubtedly been deflection, raging against referees and administrators and, on occasion, the press, to take attention away from his under-performing players, which has worked for him immensely well.
We have seen instances of that this season, most notably when Mourinho tried to suggest that criticism of Rooney’s performance for England against Slovakia at the start of September had affected his club form. But during his short spell in charge of United so far, Mourinho has been happy and always tried to praise the positives of his players in front of the media. His criticism on Shaw for the Manchester City game was logical and presumably has given the youngster a learning boost more than anything else.
Both Klopp and Mourinho recognize a simple enough fact, easily forgotten, the bond between players and manager is crucial in winning trophies. United had that, of course, under Ferguson. It is what Mourinho is seeking, over time, to rebuild and to be very honest United has seemed to be a rejuvenated unit this season.
Recent form
Somewhat advantage Klopp. Though United looked imperious in demolishing Leicester; Liverpool did the same thing to the defending Premier League champions.
But Mourinho’s team was comprehensively outplayed by Man City in the first half of the derby, before a wretched display against Watford. Leicester’s form has been irregular enough to be unable to draw any kind of pattern, other than that, it’s defending against United in the first half at Old Trafford would have embarrassed a lower-league team.
Playing a game of simple truths, Liverpool has won four games in a row; United has one win in its last four. Klopp’s team should be more confident. But this is where Mourinho’s squads show their fangs, with their backs pinned to the wall, in what is English football’s most romantic and exciting match-up.