Liverpool's recruitment over the past six or seven years has transformed the club with the Reds seen as a standard bearer when it comes to their transfer policy.
Manchester United meanwhile are anything but, with their lacklustre decision making a large reason behind their demise and subsequent struggles. Whilst their great rivals have built a squad with a clear vision in mind accompanied by a smart wage structure, the Red Devils have seen signing after signing fail to match expectations.
They look set to lose Paul Pogba, their £89m record-signing, for nothing this summer. The likes of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Harry Maguire and Dan James - all men signed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - have been unable to propel the club forward or have already left Old Trafford.
United's strategy when it comes to targeting players has left a lot to be desired. Big names have come and gone, whilst those they've missed out on have gone on to do big things and have notable influences. Several of those have done so close by at Anfield.
Several pioneers of Jurgen Klopp's dominant side, who could still win the quadruple this term, have been on the shortlist at Old Trafford. But, such has been their failings in the market, all of them fell by the wayside as Liverpool now reap the benefits.
Virgil van Dijk has been seen by many as the catalyst on Merseyside. He arrived in January 2018 and just five months later the Reds were playing in a Champions League final. 12 months later they were champions of Europe and another year after they had conquered the Premier League.
A late United move
Liverpool announced the signing of the Dutch centre-half on 27 December 2017. The summer before Van Dijk had made it clear he wanted to move on with several of England's top clubs keen. Manchester City were among those chasing hit, but their neighbours also entered the race.
However, rather than identifying the defender early on and making the appropriate moves to sign him, United made a late swoop to sign Van Dijk, according to the Daily Mail . They did so on the day he was having his Liverpool medical and couldn't steal a march on their rivals.
Six months later Jose Mourinho made it clear he wanted a centre-half, just months before he was eventually sacked. United failed to deliver on his request before Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was allowed to spend a world-record amount on Maguire.
Klopp's Mane man
Sadio Mane was the first marquee signing of the Klopp era. He moved from Southampton in 2016 for £34m after impressing during his two seasons at St Mary's. His performances caught the eye of United, whose public interest was well known.
Louis van Gaal was in charge then and the Manchester club held talks with Mane, but an intervention from Klopp proved crucial and convinced the Senegal star that Anfield was a better option for him. He said previously: "Yes, I was really, really close because I even met up with them. So I was coming, I was there and I spoke with the boss who was there before (Van Gaal).
"They made an offer, but in the same week, Klopp called me. He said: 'I think it’s the right club. The right coach for me, and I think it’s better that I go to Liverpool’. For me I think it was the right time as well. I said, 'I am going to Liverpool'."
United would go on to sign Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Borussia Dortmund in the same summer Mane moved to Liverpool. The Armenian, despite being highly-rated, lasted just 18 months before he was part of the failed swap deal that featured Alexis Sanchez.
The extra mile for Firmino
Easy to forget that Roberto Firmino, given how well he suited Klopp's system and style, was a Brendan Rodgers signing. The now Leicester City boss didn't get to enjoy the Brazilian for very long before he was sacked. Firmino was a £29m signing from Hoffenheim.
However United could've bagged the forward for just over £13m, according to reports. A Manchester medical was due to take place whilst Firmino was on international duty, but that allowed Liverpool time to convince the forward to change his mind.
Former Liverpool CEO Ian Ayre decided to fly to South America to steal the deal after talks with Firmino's agent. Ayre has told the Daily Mail: "He said to me: 'We will have to sit down and talk further – do you want to come out here? I'm in Santiago.' I said: 'Sure, no problem'."
United's forward problems have continued throughout the years, so much so that they currently rely on 37-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo - who everyone accepts is a short-term solution to a long-term problem. Players like Romelu Lukaku have come and gone whilst the Reds have now successfully found the successor for Firmino in Diogo Jota.
