At the tip of 2019, a panel of their friends deemed Jurgen Klopp and Erik ten Hag to be two of one of the best 4 managers in males’s soccer.
Ten Hag backed Klopp to win that yr’s gong at FIFA’s creatively named ‘The Best’ awards – which he did – however his relationship with Liverpool’s long-serving supervisor hasn’t at all times been so rosy. After leaving Ajax to affix Manchester United, arguably Liverpool’s fiercest rivals, Ten Hag’s head-to-heads with Klopp have taken on an additional layer of enmity.
Here’s how every supervisor has confronted when their groups have duked it out on the pitch.
At the tip of a “wild” Champions League group-stage match that an injury-ravaged Liverpool narrowly edged courtesy of an personal purpose from Nicolas Tagliafico, Klopp could not assist however level out the enjoying floor.
“I really think the pitch was really tricky. It was like deep, muddy a little bit,” he mentioned. “Even if you can’t see it from outside but it was like this because both teams looked really exhausted pretty early.”
They were hardly the worst conditions Liverpool have faced when playing in Amsterdam – a Johan Cruyff-inspired Ajax famously rattled five goals past Liverpool amid dense fog in 1966 – but Ten Hag wasn’t too impressed either. “Let’s hope we get a greater pitch at Anfield then,” he snapped.
Klopp had hoisted aloft the Champions League trophy one year earlier but described a 1-0 victory at home to Ten Hag’s Ajax as “crucial, most tough, most distinctive” European win of his whole tenure on the membership.
As nicely as securing Liverpool’s progress to the knockout phases with one sport to spare – and thereby hampering Ajax’s probabilities – the victory was achieved in entrance of an empty Anfield and with out the likes of Alisson, Virgil van Dijk or Trent Alexander-Arnold.
While Liverpool’s stand-in goalkeeper stood agency – Caoimhin Kelleher made 4 essential saves whereas protecting a clear sheet on his Champions League debut – Ajax’s first-choice custodian wilted.
Andre Onana wandered off his line however let Neco Williams’ in-swinging cross drift via the air. However, the ball didn’t – as Onana anticipated – exit of play, as a substitute touchdown on Curtis Jones’ instep earlier than nestling in an unguarded internet. “I am not the best,” Onana admitted, presumably to nods of agreement in the mixed zone, “mistakes can happen to anyone.”
Both Liverpool and United limped into the third fixture of the 2022/23 Premier League season without a win. Klopp’s side had been held to a pair of draws against Fulham and Crystal Palace while Ten Hag began his reign at United with defeats to Brighton and Brentford.
By the end of that sticky August night at Old Trafford, Liverpool remained winless. United, emphatically, were not.
Playing with a renewed verve and vigour, the hosts raced into a 2-0 lead before Mohamed Salah – so often United’s tormentor-in-chief – nabbed a consolation goal.
Ten Hag was fizzing with enthusiasm as his side produced a preview of the type of performance which would become increasingly common in the Dutchman’s debut campaign.
“There was communication, there was a fighting spirit and especially there was a team, and you can see what they can achieve,” Ten Hag gleefully chirped. “Because they can f***ing play good football.”
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