Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has admitted Liverpool are the one side he is hoping to beat above anyone else next season.
The Red Devils were heavily beaten by Jurgen Klopp's side last term, losing by five goals at Old Trafford and shipping a further four at Anfield without reply. United ended the season with their lowest points tally (58) in the Premier League era as they finished 35 points adrift of title winners, Manchester City.
Maguire and the rest of United's defensive unit came in for intense scrutiny over the course of the campaign, though new manager Erik ten Hag has stood by the 29-year-old after confirming the England international will remain the club captain despite calls for change.
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Looking to win back the support of fans ahead of the new season, Maguire recently took part in a Q&A session in Australia and received a warm reception after naming Liverpool as the team he hopes to come out on top against more than any other in 2022/23. Fellow defenders Alex Telles and Ethan Laird also delivered the same answer when asked to weigh in on this question.
United have already managed to get one over on the Reds in pre-season courtesy of a 4-0 win in Bangkok earlier this week, though Maguire and his team-mates must let their football do the talking once the league campaign gets under way at the start of August.
After what was undoubtedly the toughest season of his career, the former Leicester City centre-back is now determined to right the wrongs of last term and has vowed to come back stronger from the setbacks he has faced in recent months.
“Listen, last year was disappointing, as an individual I didn’t play well and as team we certainly didn’t play well,” Maguire told fans in Melbourne, as reported by the Manchester Evening News.
“But a good career can last 10 to 15 years and you’re never going to have every year where it’s plain sailing and you don’t have any difficulties. You’re going to have to fight, you’re going to have set backs and last year was certainly a set back for myself on my career path.
"Erik and his coaching staff are bringing their ideas and in the first two games you’ve seen little glimpses of the principals. We’re working towards being ready for that first Premier League game, that’s what matters. Everything we’re doing now is building for that first game."
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