Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool were in a worse state when Jurgen Klopp arrived than the one Manchester United find themselves in now.
United confirmed the appointment of Erik Ten Hag as their next permanent manager on Thursday as they attempt to close the gap on England’s leading teams.
With Liverpool thrashing their bitter rivals 4-0 on Tuesday, much was made about the stark contrast between the traditional two powerhouses of English football.
Klopp has restored Liverpool to something approaching the heights they were reaching in the 1970s and 1980s, while United continue to struggle despite a number of big-name signings.
Even aside from the manager or players in the squad, it is at Anfield where you’ll find a coherent strategy behind the scenes. At Old Trafford, meanwhile, the vastly unpopular Glazer family continue to invoke the ire of supporters.
Still, few could doubt Klopp’s impact.
Predecessor Brendan Rodgers had struggled in the wake of Luis Suarez’s departure in 2014 and was sacked in October 2015, with Klopp finishing 8th during his first season in charge.
From there, however, the German has won both the Premier League and the Champions League after being afforded time and confidence by those above him, as well a defined philosophy.
Whether or not Ten Hag is granted either remains to be seen but, taking to Twitter, Carragher wrote: “Liverpool were in a worse state when Klopp came in. 2.5 yrs later LFC were in a CL final.”
