Jurgen Klopp put the emphasis on the definite article. “It is the game against United,” he said. “Quite a big club as well and always when we face them it is massive.” Klopp was 48 before he experienced Liverpool against Manchester United in the flesh, but his memories of the meetings of English football’s two biggest and most successful clubs dated back to his boyhood in Germany. It is a match that he feels defines the sport, that gives it some of the meaning football requires to offer escapism from the problems of day-to-day life.
“The whole world will watch it,” he said. “I will watch it. The moment when Liverpool v United is not a special game any more then something went really wrong. Liverpool v Man Utd, who? That would be really difficult, that would be really sad.
