Ahead of his first experience of the Liverpool-Manchester United rivalry in January 2016, Jurgen Klopp described the game as “the salt in the soup”.
The German didn't enjoy the taste that followed, Wayne Rooney's 78th-minute goal at Anfield consigning Klopp's side to a demoralising 1-0 defeat that also sealed United's Premier League double over their arch-rivals for a second successive season.
“We lost a game we should not have lost,” bemoaned Klopp, whose desperation was underlined by the sight of on-loan centre-back Steven Caulker, signed on loan from Queens Park Rangers of the Championship five days earlier among a spate of defensive injuries, coming off the bench to play as a makeshift striker late on.
At least he was in good company. No Liverpool manager has won his first meeting with United since Bob Paisley in 1975.
But just shy of eight years on, the dynamic between the two historic heavyweights of English football has shifted emphatically – particularly when they face one another at Anfield.
Over the course of Klopp's reign, the visit of United has gone from a fixture to dread on Merseyside to one that is relished. United haven't won there in eight attempts in all competitions since that day in January 2016. You have to go back to the 1970s for the last time they endured such a barren run away to their biggest rivals.
Man Utd results at Anfield since Klopp's appointment
Jan 2016 Won 1-0 Premier League
March 2016 Lost 0-2 Europa League
Oct 2016 Drew 0-0 Premier League
Oct 2017 Drew 0-0 Premier League
Dec 2018 Lost 1-3 Premier League
Jan 2020 Lost 0-2 Premier League
Jan 2021 Drew 0-0 Premier League
April 2022 Lost 0-4 Premier League
March 2023 Lost 0-7 Premier League
In seven of their past eight visits, United haven't even managed to score.
Their only goal in more than 12 hours of football at Anfield since that Rooney winner was a first-half equaliser by Jesse Lingard in a 3-1 defeat in December 2018, a day remembered by the hosts for two late goals scored by substitute Xherdan Shaqiri and the Kop gloatingly bellowing, “Don't sack Mourinho” in the closing stages. United didn't listen. Within 48 hours, the Portuguese had been relieved of his duties.
As United's on-field decline has hastened, so the Anfield humiliations have become more heightened, especially in the last two seasons.
There was a 4-0 win in April 2022 which prompted Ralf Rangnick, United's interim manager at the time, to say that Liverpool were “six years ahead of us” and former United captain Roy Keane, watching from UK broadcaster Sky Sports' TV studio on punditry duty, to remark his old club had “no leadership, no characters, no fight, no determination”.
But that was nothing compared to last season's meeting on Merseyside — a 7-0 mauling which represented the biggest win in the history of the rivalry, surpassing Liverpool's 7-1 victory over Newton Heath, as United were then known, in 1895 and equalling the heaviest defeat ever inflicted on United.
What made that day in March so astonishing was that United were looking down on Liverpool in the league table before kick-off. Klopp's midfield had been faltering due to age, the need to rebuild laid bare; United were 10 points clear of them in third place to Liverpool's sixth and had won the Carabao Cup final the previous weekend.
That counted for nothing, though, as United capitulated in the second half, conceding six goals in front of a disbelieving Kop.
Klopp called the result “a freak” but the home fans put it more bluntly: “Liverpool, Liverpool, taking the p***” was the chant that went up, before a booming rendition of “We want eight!” United manager Erik ten Hag said he was “ashamed” by the “unprofessional performance” his side had served up.
“The 7-0 was one of the greatest days ever,” says Paul Machin, from Liverpool fan channel Redmen TV. “It was made even better by the fact that we had been rubbish and United arrived full of optimism.
“I'm 40, and my childhood and adolescent years were ruined by United's dominance in the 1990s and 2000s. Back then the best we could hope for was landing a blow and giving them a bloody nose. They subjected us to so much heartbreak.
“That makes being so much better than them now even sweeter. It's schadenfreude. We've been on the up at the same time as United have been on the way down. We passed them on the stairs. Games like this used to be stressful. Now they're fun.”
Roberto Firmino celebrates scoring Liverpool's seventh against United last season (Michael Regan/Getty Images)
From the players' perspective, United's struggles this season have done little to change how they view this fixture. They know what's at stake and, for all that's gone wrong for the men from Old Trafford, it is still one of the most eagerly-awaited dates in the calendar. For Scousers Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones, the importance of this fixture was ingrained in them as they came up through the ranks.
It is no coincidence that Mohamed Salah also seems to reserve his best form for encounters with United. The Egyptian feeds off the intensity of the atmosphere, knowing full well what humbling United means to the supporters who adore him, and has become their chief tormentor as a result.
His tally of 12 goals in 12 appearances for Liverpool against United is the most he's scored against any opponent. No Liverpool player has ever netted more against United – Steven Gerrard is next on the list with nine.
Klopp, for his part, was happy to kickstart the build-up on Monday at a fans' Q&A, which served as the test event for the redeveloped Anfield Road Stand, which partially opens on Sunday meaning 57,000 supporters will be in attendance – Anfield's biggest crowd for half a century.
“It's just a massive game,” said Klopp. “I don't like to talk about three points before you have them. The worse they (United) do before, the more dangerous they are when we meet them. A full-throttle performance is required.”
Klopp knows the importance of Liverpool-Manchester United games (Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Every conceivable statistic favours Liverpool.
They have won all seven of their home Premier League matches this season by a combined score of 21 goals to five.
In contrast, United, who went out of Europe for the season in midweek by finishing bottom of their Champions League group with one win in the six games, have failed to win any of their last 13 away league fixtures (three draws, 10 losses) against sides who began the day in the top eight since beating Tottenham Hotspur in October 2021.
As well as their injury problems, United will be without captain Bruno Fernandes, due to suspension.
Already, Liverpool fans can smell blood.
“We need to heap more misery on them,” adds Machin. “Sunday doesn't need to be one for the ages. Just winning and not letting them lay a glove on us would be enough.
“The reality is that Liverpool have got bigger fish to fry. You find yourself looking past this one to the game against Arsenal the following weekend. United just don't feel like a threat which is unique in my lifetime.”
Klopp's “salt in the soup” has certainly become a lot more palatable since that first taste in 2016.