Liverpool are a more mature side than Manchester United, with the advantage of a cohesive team of established players, United manager Erik ten Hag said ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash between the bitter rivals at Old Trafford.
“Liverpool are in a different phase of the life cycle,” Ten Hag told reporters on Friday. “They are a mature team with players who have played together for a long time and are very experienced.
“We are much more mixed and we have to build a new team.”
United have not beaten Liverpool in the league since a 2-1 win at Old Trafford in August 2022 though Ten Hag’s men did prevail 4-3 over former Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp’s side to win the FA Cup last season.
Liverpool finished third in the league last season, five places and 22 points ahead of United, but Ten Hag said his side could take heart from their performance in the FA Cup final.
“We can always win, last year we won (in the FA Cup) in the second part of the season,” the Dutchman said.
“(Liverpool) are a team who are clear in the relationship among their players. It’s what (new manager Arne Slot) has inherited. It was built over the last few years.”
Slot and Ten Hag have faced each other in the past during their time working in the Dutch top flight, with little to choose between them on paper. Both managers have two wins apiece against each other in the Eridivisie, with Sunday’s match at Old Trafford their first head-to-head meeting since March 2022.
Liverpool have made a solid start to the season under Slot, who became their first manager since Graeme Souness in 1991 to win his two opening league games in charge with Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Brentford.
United, on the other hand, dropped their first points of the campaign when they were beaten 2-1 at Brighton & Hove Albion last Saturday.
“One of the reasons I came here is I knew beforehand it would be the most difficult thing I could ever do in my life, to come in (to) a club with a lot of problems,” added Ten Hag, who took charge of United in April 2022.
“I inherited a history of six years and no trophy. We’re still in transition. We have young players, academy players, and now we have to construct a team for the future.”
Merino injury
Mikel Merino’s debut for Arsenal has been put on hold after the Spain midfielder sustained a broken bone in his shoulder in training just two days after joining the club for $42 million.
Merino was in contention to play a part in Arsenal’s Premier League game at home to Brighton on Saturday after joining from Real Sociedad on Tuesday.
However, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said Merino was hurt when defender Gabriel Magalhaes fell on him during a practice session on Thursday. “It looks like he’ll be out for a few weeks,” Arteta said Friday. “It was in his first session with us.
