It is marginally over 12 months since Jurgen Klopp became Liverpool manager. And the first game of his second year will be against Liverpool’s greatest of rivals, Manchester United. It is fitting, in many ways, that Klopp has the chance to take on the country’s most successful club at Anfield and clash with another of the world’s best managers. It is a battle of two vastly different characters, two men who will seldom see eye to eye, but it is destined to be superb entertainment.
That has been Liverpool since Klopp arrived: pure entertainment. Full of gifted forwards, the squad lends itself to goal-filled matches, though defensive mistakes throughout have also helped to make it great watching for the neutral. Over the summer, Sadio Mane joined an arsenal of flamboyant forwards, while Klopp’s 4-3-3 produces some of the most exciting football in Europe. The reinvention of Jordan Henderson as a deep-lying midfielder, the defensive additions and left-back renaissance of James Milner have seen Liverpool become one of the continent’s most feared sides.
The opportunity to hammer a nail into Manchester United’s coffin is a golden one for Liverpool. Currently three points ahead of their harshest rivals, another victory would already hurt the Red Devils’ title hopes. Liverpool have won four straight games in the league and are within one City slip up of taking top spot away from Manchester’s other footballing giant. A victory on Monday night, after momentum was quashed during the break, would be the launchpad for a realistic title challenge from Liverpool.
Without the nagging concern of Europa League football or the squad frailties that were so glaring during previous seasons, Liverpool look stronger than they have done for the vast part of this millennium. The Kop hardly needs a boost after this start to the season, but defeating two of their oldest, bitterest rivals in Manchester United and Jose Mourinho would further add to the belief that Liverpool are building something special. As we saw in 2013/14, Liverpool are a force with a following wind behind them, and this team is several factors stronger than that side.
Recent defensive improvements have shown glimmers of hope that Liverpool can adjust their game and tighten up at the back, though that isn’t an overnight process. Joel Matip’s addition reflects a faultless transfer policy from Klopp, the Cameroon international will face his greatest challenge yet against Zlatan Ibrahimovic: that will be a pivotal matchup on Monday evening.
The craving for a league title at Anfield is even greater than the desire for a greasy, inelegant lamb doner after ten pints. Jurgen Klopp can become a scouse deity if he lifts the Premier League trophy aloft at Anfield, and games like this will prove to be a determining factor in his second year in charge. Beat the Special One, and Klopp might give Liverpool their very own special one.
