Liverpool manager Slot expecting a tough game against Manchester United

By Peter Ochieng

Liverpool manager Arne Slot is expecting a tough game, when his charges face Manchester United in an English Premier League (EPL) blockbuster at Old Trafford, on Sunday.

The teams will meet for the first time, since the Reds beat the Red Devils 3-0 in a friendly match in the United States, on August 04, 2024.

Addressing the press on Friday before the Sunday clash, Slot who is still taking ‘his baby steps at Anfield’ having replaced the legendary Jurgen Klopp ahead of the 2024/2025 season,urged his players to be ready for a difficult match against Erik ten Hag side, adding that they may not replicate the 3-0 win, given the fact that United will enjoy home ground advantage.

“It's going to be different, of course,” he said, as quoted by the Club website.

“I'm not expecting half of the stadium that they are cheering for us or they are in favour of us – I would be surprised if it happens! So, that's going to be different but what makes it more different is that both teams have a lot of different players on the pitch. So, you can't compare that game with the game on Sunday.”

Both managers are Dutch. Slot said he has a good relationship with Ten Hag, having known him from his days as Ajax manager.

“No, not friends. Friends is something else, I think, but a very good relationship. But a friend is someone you see a lot and you go out with either to dinner [or]… but that's not something we've done in the past. For that, we don't know each other well enough,” added Slot, signed from Ajax rivals, Feyenoord.

Liverpool head into the Sunday match as one of the four sides to have won two out of two matches, for the 2024/2025 season, alongside league leaders Manchester City, Brighton and Arsenal.

United on the other hand has won against Fulham and lost to Brighton in the first two matches.