Jurgen Klopp has demanded that Liverpool be awarded the points if Monday’s match at Manchester United is called off due to crowd disturbances.
Around 10,000 Manchester United fans intend to march before the game against owner Joel Glazer, amid fears that breakaway groups would also try to invade the pitch and restrict entrance to Old Trafford.
The season before last May’s United-Liverpool match was called off due to a large protest that resulted in fans battling with police and other supporters blocking the team bus.
The match was rescheduled on that occasion, with Liverpool winning 4-2, but Klopp believes his team should not be forced to fit in another tie when they would be culpable for any postponement.
‘I hope it doesn’t happen, but if it does, I think we should receive the points,’ he said.
“We have nothing to do with the situation if (United) fans do not want the game to take place.” We can’t just rearrange the game and attempt to fit it in somewhere during such a hectic time.’
Liverpool has 25 games left before the World Cup in November.
‘We’ll get United, maybe win the game, and go home,’ Klopp added. ‘I’m not sure what could happen. In this case, though, the other team should receive the points because they had nothing to do with it. We’ve practiced for the game.’
To prevent the problems of last season, leaders of various United fan organizations, including the important 1958 group, are interacting via WhatsApp.
Thousands of people will march from the Tollgate pub near Old Trafford an hour before the 8 p.m. kickoff to the renowned Trinity Statue outside the stadium, which portrays club stars George Best, Denis Law, and Sir Bobby Charlton.
After a dismal start to the season that saw them slip to the bottom of the table with last weekend’s 4-0 defeat at Brentford, the Glazers have attempted to assuage fans by initiating discussions to sell a minority ownership in the club and are recruiting Real Madrid player Casemiro.
With the club approximately £500 million in debt, there is significant resistance to the owners. Sir James Ratcliffe, a British billionaire, is among those interested in purchasing United if it is sold.
Klopp, on the other hand, has no sympathy for his opponent Erik ten Hag and has acknowledged that he needs to plan for a different style of United team every time the manager changes.
Ten Hag is the sixth manager at Old Trafford since Klopp’s arrival, following Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and interims Michael Carrick and Ralf Rangnick.
It has given United’s squad a fractured appearance, according to the German, who added: ‘All the coaches played differently – Van Gaal and Mourinho very differently.’ As a result, we must prepare in a completely different manner. Otherwise, if football constantly looked the same, I’d be out of a job as a coach.
‘Imagine how much money Liverpool saved by not paying off all those managers – I should have stated that when I signed my last deal!’
‘It’s not required to sympathize with Ten Hag. We have issues if it comes to football. I doubt you’d go to Manchester United and ask if we have too many injuries.
‘The football world is a shark-infested sea. My sympathy will neither assist nor damage them. We all have our difficulties, and that’s all there is to it.’
Liverpool has scored nine goals in their last two games at Old Trafford.
And if Klopp manages a hat-trick, he will become the first Liverpool manager since Gerard Houllier to win three games at Old Trafford.
Thiago Alcantara, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Joel Matip, Curt Jones, and Diogo Jota are all out, while forward Roberto Firmino is available to replace the suspended Darwin Nunez.
United has failed to adjust to playing out from the back and facing a strong press. Rangnick abandoned the pressing strategy last season, alleging that the players were unable of carrying it out, and there were defensive gaffes at Brentford.
Klopp’s experience was different, with the Liverpool squad immediately embracing his ‘heavy metal football.’
‘I enjoyed our first game [a 0-0 draw against Tottenham],’ he remarked. ‘With only one session, we only had two days to recover after an international break.
‘It made an excellent first impression. I still picture Adam Lallana flying around, pressing everyone who was wearing a different shirt. That was fantastic.
‘I don’t think we got off to a good start in terms of outcomes.’ I didn’t read anything about us since you don’t have to be bothered by it all when you’re focused on work and taking small steps.
‘If I could coach, my players could certainly play good Pep Guardiola football.’
‘Pre-season showed how Ten Hag wants to play.’ That is obvious if you are familiar with his Ajax team.
‘But I can’t sit here before our game against United and advise them how to do it – that’s not my subject.’