“Then obviously Trent [Alexander-Arnold], Jordan [Henderson] and Ox [Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain], all the England lads. We’ll be friends off the pitch but come Sunday, we definitely won’t be.
“I won ‘ t be messaging them this week, I’m sure they’ll be preparing for the game just like we are.
“I’ll speak to them after the game, no doubt, but it’s a big game and there’ll be no friendly messages going around this week.”
And Maguire – named United’s new full-time captain on Friday after Ashley Young’s move to Inter Milan – is relishing leading his side out at Anfield.
“I’ve felt it since I’ve been here, the rivalry between the two clubs,” he continued. “Sunday is a big game, there’s no doubt about it, and one we’re looking forward to.********
Man Utd star Harry Maguire ‘really pleased’ for one Liverpool star ahead of Anfield clash(Image: GETTY)
“I remember the game earlier in the season at Old Trafford and the build-up towards it. It was different definitely, there’s been no build up to a league game that I’ve ever felt like that before. ”
The England international insists United will approach the clash targeting a win, although Liverpool’s record in the Premier League reads (games unbeaten.)
“We go into the game on Sunday looking for three points,” Maguire added.
“We’re not going there to play for a draw and wherever we go, we’re expected to win games because we’re Manchester United. We have confidence in our ability and our team.
“This year we’ve beaten Manchester City at the Etihad, got a point against Liverpool at Old Trafford where we maybe should’ve held on in the dying stages and got all three, but we take confidence from that going into Sunday. ”
His manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says the same. The Norwegian coach said toSky Sports: “It will take a massive performance, it will take a performance up to our best levels , it will take a performance we’ve shown before that we are capable of. Man City away, PSG away, big games for us to look back on and think: ‘Yeah, we can do it.’
“Since I’ve been here we have met Liverpool twice – two draws at Old Trafford – and I think we’ve done well, with different approaches in both games. It gives us a couple of options of how to play against them.
“I’m not worried, no. Of course we’d like to win more games, but we do have a team sometimes that can set up in away games and soak up some pressure, counter attack, and some of our best performances have been against good teams away from home.
“You need to find an extra level to come away with something at Anfield. It’s not an easy place to go to, but you’ve got to go there with a mindset of not just waiting for them to steamroller you.
“They have done that against a few teams. We’ve got to go there and stamp our own authority on the game, and do as well as we can.
“As I said, it’s only a month ago we should have been four or five up against City away from home. Yes, we’ve lost against them at home since that, but we do have experience that we can look back on.
“If we keep our heads, keep believing in what we’re doing, of course there could be moments in a game where you need some luck, to win your individual battles. But tactically I’m sure we should be able to cope with it. ”
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