“It’s not a vital game,” Klopp tells the media. Nonetheless, both himself and Jose Mourinho are making the effort to rally up the fans and their players insisting on trying to obtain the most out of the match.
Manchester United will arrive at Anfield as a much more confident team than last season. Whereas last season, Jose Mourinho’s team was struggling and eventually finished in a disappointed place in the Premier League, they are now leading the competition.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, another favorite for the title, have once again had their ups and downs during the season. The general perception is that Liverpool is simply a team capable of defeating any adversary regardless of their reputation. Then again they’re also a team that could lose to the lowest ranked adversary.
It’s a big game Mourinho says. However, he insists that this is what the players get prepared for and there is no reason for them to feel any pressure. “When people speak about big atmospheres, it makes it sound like a big problem for us to go to certain place and face a big atmosphere. This [a great atmosphere] is what we want. I’m surprised you say this. I’m even more surprised that people talk about atmosphere as if they are something sinister. It’s something we want, something if we could have every match, we would have.”
One of the main talking points for the derby is the perceived rivalry between Klopp and Mourinho, two of the most lauded managers in recent years and certainly two of the managers with the largest personalities. The German manager insists he is not interested in such things and getting the fans what they want is what he would rather offer his focus.
“When people speak about big atmospheres, it makes it sound like a big problem for us to go to certain place and face a big atmosphere. This [a great atmosphere] is what we want. I’m surprised you say this. I’m even more surprised that people talk about atmosphere as if they are something sinister. It’s something we want, something if we could have every match, we would have,” Klopp tells reporters.
The managers are trying to offer the same level of excitement towards their players, but what do the teams’ big stars think. Juan Mata, the Manchester United midfielder, says that since arriving in England he has been under the belief that Liverpool vs. United is the game that the most number of fans are interested in.
Mata believes his team can win the encounter and continue as leaders of the Premier League, provided they manage to keep their emotions in check. “If we manage to impose ourselves in the game to control the emotions from the crowd, and play good football, I think we have a chance to win.”
