Jamie Carragher has suggested that Jurgen Klopp would love Liverpool to sign two players from their arch-rivals Manchester United.
Liverpool have had the edge over Man Utd in recent years, but the tables have turned this term.
Erik ten Hag’s side won 2-1 when the sides met earlier this season at Old Trafford. They face off at Anfield this weekend in the return fixture.
Man Utd are arguably the favourites heading into this weekend’s clash as they are enjoying a brilliant season. It is possible for them to win multiple trophies this term, while Liverpool are enduring a nightmare campaign.
Jurgen Klopp’s side suffered disappointing exits from the Carabao Cup and FA Cup. They are also likely to be knocked out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage.
Liverpool are now vying to gatecrash the Champions League places as they attempt to salvage something from this season.
They will likely be the underdogs this weekend, with Man Utd being helped by the presence of Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro. Both players have shone since joining the Red Devils in the summer from Ajax and Real Madrid respectively.
Carragher thinks Klopp “will be looking for his own Casemiro and Martinez this summer”.
‘After Liverpool’s comprehensive 4-0 win last season, the suggestion Manchester United were “years behind” their rivals took hold,’ Carragher wrote for the Daily Telegraph.
‘I said it was nonsense then, and as an ex-Liverpool player took no pleasure in being right after United’s Carabao Cup underlined their massive progress this season.
‘The combination of Ten Hag’s astute management and coaching and the introduction of proven competitors with the right mentality such as Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez is proof that big clubs only need two or three top class players to be transformed.
‘Klopp will be looking for his own Casemiro and Martínez this summer, a dominant central midfielder and quality centre-back to partner Virgil van Dijk.
‘Then we might finally see what the Premier League has generally lacked – a strong Manchester United and Liverpool facing each other as a genuine threat to title ambitions rather than a distraction to deal with twice a season.’
Carragher has also been impressed by Marcus Rashford. The pundit feels that the forward deserves to win the PFA Player of the Year award this season.
‘I am not for one second suggesting Rashford is a superior striker and footballer to Haaland,’ Carragher wrote in his Telegraph column.
‘But the PFA Player of the Year vote is all about timing.
‘Having been in a dressing room when the forms arrived to fill in, I can assure you no-one is thinking about who was the best player in September and October.
‘It is the six weeks before the vote that is most influential, so if Rashford inspires United to victory over Newcastle United in Wembley’s Carabao Cup final what might now be a 50-50 shout will edge in his favour.’
READ MORE: Man Utd have a ‘Casemiro problem’ which could stop ‘unstoppable juggernaut’ winning Quadruple
Leave a Reply