Echo: Pochettino's potential Man Utd debut would be against Liverpool at Anfield

Mauricio Pochettino appears set to replace Carrick as Manchester United manager, with his first match being against Liverpool at Anfield.

Liverpool is expected to face a familiar face, Mauricio Pochettino, in the Premier League against Manchester United. After the international break, the Reds will host their rivals at Anfield.

Manchester United has had a terrible start to the season, winning only 1 of their first 10 league matches and currently sitting in the relegation zone, making a managerial change seem inevitable.

Carrick was appointed permanent manager this summer after his success as interim manager in the second half of last season. However, recent reports suggest he will be sacked this week, and Pochettino has been named as a potential successor.

The Argentine currently manages the US national team, but has a release clause in his contract. He is no stranger to the Premier League, having managed Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, and Chelsea.

Pochettino has faced Liverpool 19 times, but his record is not ideal. Of those 19 matches, Liverpool has won 11, with 5 draws, and Pochettino's teams have only won 3.

His last encounter with Liverpool was in the 2024 League Cup final at Wembley Stadium. Van Dijk's extra-time goal secured a 1-0 victory for Klopp's side.

Pochettino last defeated Liverpool in 2017, when Tottenham Hotspur won 4-1 at White Hart Lane. Since then, he has faced Liverpool with 6 losses and 2 draws.

The manager's other two victories against Liverpool both came in his first two encounters while managing Southampton, a 3-1 win in March 2013 and a 1-0 win in September of the same year.

As for encounters with Andoni Iraola, the sample size is much smaller. The two have only met twice in their careers, both in Premier League matches between Chelsea and AFC Bournemouth.

Their first encounter in 2023 ended in a 0-0 draw. However, in the second leg, Pochettino had the last laugh as Chelsea won 2-1.

Liverpool hopes that Pochettino's poor record against them will counteract any "new manager bounce" effect for his new club. This will be his 20th match against Liverpool, and the Reds hope to extend their winning tally to 12.

Before the international break, Liverpool was fourth in the Premier League table, two points ahead of fifth-placed Chelsea. In their last match, they defeated Crystal Palace 3-1 at Selhurst Park.