Premier League English

Jurgen Klopp’s foil to Solskjaer’s mind games

Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp has responded with a snappy retort back at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s claim that there is “no better time” for Manchester United to head to Anfield, and played down the idea of the Premier League leaders being underdogs.

Solskjaer suggested after Tuesday’s Burnley win that lifted United top of the table that his side were facing Liverpool at the ideal moment, despite claiming yesterday it would be a “shock” and an “upset” if they became the first team to win at Anfield in the league since April 2017.

Klopp, in a snappy repartee, scoffed at his counterpart’s attempts to downplay United’s title-chasing credentials and responded with a frosty “let’s see” accompanied with a smile after noting Solskjaer’s belief that it was an opportune time for the Red Devils to visit the champions tomorrow.

“I have been five years in England and United was never an underdog,” Klopp said. “They cannot be. Always good teams, always great players, always really good managers and coaches. It was always there and now they are top of the table.”

Admitting that the absence of fans at Anfield could be “a bit of an advantage”, Solskjaer labelled United as underdogs and “hunters” in the title race, despite United being top at the moment.

“If you look at the last few seasons, I think it would be an upset and it would be a shock (if we won),” the United manager said. “Our position at the moment is a product of all the hard work we’ve done in the training ground and we probably deserve to be where we are.

“But I don’t think many would have thought of another word for it than an upset – if you went six weeks back – if we beat Liverpool at Anfield. But we’re looking forward to the game and hoping we can cause that upset.”

Solskjaer had said after beating Burnley to record a ninth win in 11 league games that “we couldn’t have asked for a better time to play (Liverpool) because we are in great shape and good form”, but he retreated cautiously from those remarks yesterday.

“It’s a test and reality check of where we’re at,” said Solskjaer, who is hoping forward Anthony Martial will have recovered from a hamstring problem.

“We’ve won many tight games, scored a few goals in injury-time, showed that mentality. But we’ve not set the world alight too many times and to win at Anfield you really need to be at your best.”

Sounds to me like another repeat of the Norwegian’s attempts at his feeble mind games to befuddle his great rival with too much said too soon, as has often been the case with Ole when United suddenly find their way out of a bad patch and go on a winning streak.

One can’t help but wonder if he’s actually trying to convince himself more than he’s trying to outsmart the opposition with his purported mind games.

Just let all the talking be done on the pitch, mate.