Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has already described Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag as one of the most "exciting" coaches in world football ahead of today's meeting between the two clubs in Thailand.
United and Liverpool will each get their pre-season preparations underway when they meet at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok. Both sides arrived in the Thai capital over the weekend and have been training in humid conditions ever since.
While the contest will signal the beginning of another season where Liverpool will go in search of another Premier League title crown, it will mark United's first game under the stewardship of Ten Hag. He was appointed as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's permanent successor back in April and he will be determined to make a winning start to life at the helm, although match fitness and ensuring his players have taken his demands onboard will be his main focus.
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But given the history and rivalry between the two clubs, there is bound to be an added spice, even though it is only a friendly. And Klopp will be aware that United will be aiming to impress on their very first outing of this new era.
The German is a big fan of Ten Hag's management style and has waxed lyrical about him in the past, following his outstanding work at Dutch giants Ajax. Ten Hag put the Amsterdam outfit back on the European football map and his efforts did not fail to go unnoticed.
"Erik is rightly regarded as one of the most exciting coaching talents in world football at the moment because of the work he does with Ajax," Klopp said, speaking in December 2020. "Of course, it is a wonderful club – one of the stellar names of European football – but in this moment it is clear they have outstanding leadership of the organisation and Erik is a big part of that.
"They have had to adapt in recent seasons after losing a few players to rival clubs. I remember from my own experience at Dortmund how that feels and what a challenge it is.
"How they deal with it is exceptional. The foundations of the team remain solid and they have recruited well. They have a clear identity. I love watching them, I have to say."
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