Liverpool will lock horns with Manchester United at the Old Trafford on Tuesday. Ahead of the heavyweight clash, manager Jurgen Klopp on Friday said that the opponents, Cristiano Ronaldo and co, will be even more motivated to win after their poor start to the 2022 Premier League season. 

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United, for the first time in 30 years, sit at the bottom of the points table. They have lost both their opening games – vs Brighton and Brentford. Star forward Ronaldo’s future with the club in under question, the mid-field looks out-of-form and players have failed to make a strong impact. 

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Amid the unprecedented crisis, United host Liverpool, who have been Premier League giants in the last decade. However, the Reds are struggling too. They have drawn both opening games – vs Fulham and Crystal Palace – and sit at the 12th rung of the points table. 

Ahead of the match, Klopp said that he is taking no satisfaction from Manchester United’s crisis. The two sides last met at the Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok in the pre-season friendlies. Erik Ten Hag’s men won the game 4-0. Last season, Liverpool won both times they faced United – 5-0 at Old Trafford and 4-0 at Anfield. 

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“When we had the two results last year I knew already in that moment it would not help for next year. It was always like this. It just helps United to be even more motivated, if that’s possible in the situations we are in. I would prefer to play them after they won 5-0, definitely. That is how it is, but it is not dreamland and we have to take it like it is,” Klopp said at his pre-match press conference on Friday.

“I think the whole world will watch it, it’s Monday night anyway, everybody can watch it, and you will see how these two heavyweights deal with the situation. I would watch it.”

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Liverpool are in a fix. In the game against Palace, they saw star striker  Darwin Nunez was sent off the field with a red card for headbutting defender Joachim Andersen. The 2019 European champions now need a strong attacker to lead them for three games the Uruguay national does not play. 

Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita, Jordan Henderson and Joe Gomez are expected to return. Diogo Jota, Thiago Alcantara, Joel Matip, Ibrahima Konate, Curtis Jones and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain remain out.