Whatever Liverpool and Manchester United seem to achieve, the measuring stick is always one another.
Whether it be league titles, European success or domestic cups wins, the two clubs’ success is always set off against the other.
While Liverpool were the kings, both home and abroad, through the 1970 s and 1980 s it was Manchester United who moved into the dominant force through the 1990 s and 2000 s.
Ahead of the two sides meeting on Sunday at Old Trafford, Paul Ince, who played an instrumental role in establishing United as a force in the 1990 s believes his other former side, Liverpool, could now be set to
Speaking on a Blood Red podcast head of the fixture, the former midfield general gave an honest reflection on how far United have fallen since Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, before focusing on the job Jurgen Klopp has done at Anfield.
Exclusive: What still rankles Paul Ince about Liverpool spell and why supporters influenced Anfield transferHERE
“I think it shows you what a special manager Alex Ferguson was. It shows you in the seven years since 2013 when he left how special he was and how great it was and how he was great at building teams but still winning things at the same time, ”he said.
“ Not necessarily titles but in 1989 we finished 12 th in the league but we still won the FA Cup and the year after that we finished about eighth but we still won the Cup Winners Cup against Barcelona.
“That was a turning point for us, once we realize dwe could beat Barcelona, the next year in training from pre-season, it was just a different mindset, different belief that we can go and win the title, and I think it could be the same for Liverpool.
“That’s what’s so great about Liverpool with Klopp, they have given him time to build a team.”
Liverpool had their own Barcelona moment in May, turning around a 3- 0 deficit to win 4-0 at Anfield en-route to winning their sixth European Cup in Madrid.
Having seen Klopp secure his first major honor at Liverpool with the win over Tottenham in the Champions League final, Ince is now tipping the Reds to taste success on a more regular basis.
“What Liverpool did last year, to lose one game in the Premier League and not win it, that was ridiculous, ”he said. “It was amazing, but it shows the quality of Manchester City, and the quality of those two teams.
Video Loading
Video Unavailable
Click to playTap to play
“What it shows me now is that after beating Tottenham in the Champions League there is, I think, the combination of that (belief) and then losing out to City last year, in the last game of the season.
“I think that’s giving them a greater belief to believe that they can go and win it this year .
“They’ve started off that way, the record that they keep winning games … it’s phenomenal. You have to learn from your experiences, your good and your bad, and that’s what we did at Manchester United. ”
He added:“ When I look at Liverpool , I see leaders, I see characters I see Henderson … van Dijk that has come in – great buy, best center-half in the world. They are leaders, even Robertson, you see him having a go at people, you see him pulling people around, you don’t see that with Manchester United.
“The way Klopp has built his teams, he has bought in the right players, in Wijnaldum, Fabinho.
” It’s just a complete team from back to front now – van Dijk was massive, Matip has come in, he has still got Gomez to come back, so it’s not just the fact that he’s got a great XI, he has also got people to come in and do exactly the same jobs. ”
The Reds head to Old Trafford sitting eight points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, with the chance of equalling Pep Guardiola’s team’s top-flight record of 18 consecutive wins .
Read More
Must-read Liverpool FC news
Ince says the success Liverpool are sampling now links directly into last season’s efforts.
He said; “I thought last year things were going to happen. There’s a time in the season where you think you are getting decisions that benefit you all the time and you think it must be our year. To lose it like they did must’ve been soul-destroying.
“But to have a character and the belief this year to keep coming back to where they left from and hit the ground running … and they have done it week in week out.
“They’ve got the right manager, he is in control and won’t let them get away with an inch. He is always barking orders, the players know they want to work hard for him, and if he doesn’t like something he will tell them.
“Liverpool have got a nice little head-start – eight points. I think they would rather have that later on in the season but I truly believe this year it will be Liverpool. ”
Paul Ince is a Paddy Power ambassador. To read more go to http://news.paddypower.com.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings