Erik ten Hag says Manchester United are prepared to “suffer” and “sacrifice” at a hostile Anfield as they seek a win against Liverpool that will keep them on the fringes of the Premier League title race.
Victory on Sunday would keep alive United’s slim hopes of catching leaders Arsenal while defeat would boost Liverpool’s hopes of a late push for the top four.
“I’m looking forward to it, the atmosphere, the atmosphere,” said Ten Hag, fresh from winning the League Cup last weekend to end the club’s six-year trophy drought.
“It’s going to be great, it’s going to be tough for us, but we’re happy.
“I know these players, my squad, my team, will be ready to go there and fight and go there with confidence. We know it will be difficult, we know we have to suffer and we have to sacrifice to get a good result.
Ten Hag’s third-placed side are still chasing four trophies in their first season at Old Trafford, while Liverpool, who missed out on the quadruple last season, have struggled.
Jurgen Klopp’s men, though, have looked the part in recent weeks, winning three of their past four league games, leaving them 10 points behind United and six behind fourth-placed Tottenham.
Ten Hag is reluctant to read too much into the switch in the fortunes of both clubs.
“We’re still in the season right now,” he said. “It’s definitely a pattern, it’s not going to be continuous.
“It’s fluid and I believe Liverpool have good management, a good playing philosophy and a very good strategy. We know about it, but we don’t talk about other clubs.
“We talk about us and I think we are in a good direction and with our philosophy, strategy and culture, we have to keep moving forward. That’s all about it.
United’s away games against their rivals have been a black mark on what has been a good season, with defeats against City and Arsenal.
But the United boss can’t understand why they can’t win at a packed Anfield this weekend and complete Liverpool’s league double this season.
“We have to play and make our game,” said the Dutchman.
“Of course we know the atmosphere won’t support us and you have to deal with it. But our players, they like it. They like to play in that kind of atmosphere.”