The Liverpool vs Manchester United Premier League fixture scheduled to take place on Sunday, January 17, is gathering momentum as side talks about the two clubs have continued to linger on hours to the match.
A few days ago, the manager of Liverpool football club, Jurgen Klopp, stressed that Manchester United are always favored ahead of Liverpool in terms of winning penalty kicks during Premier League matches.
This statement did not go down well for a couple of Premier League stakeholders especially the referees who see the statement as an indictment. One of such referees is ex-Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg who alleged that Jurgen Klopp’s statement was a mind game geared towards influencing referee Paul Tierney who has been named as the center-referee for Liverpool vs Manchester United game.
The argument was that Jurgen Klopp openly criticized referees for awarding more penalties to Manchester United so that referee Paul Tierney would be conscious of how he handles decisions in the penalty box especially when it is against Liverpool.
In reaction to Mark Clattenburg’s insertion that Klopp was playing a mind game, Liverpool’s coach told reporters that he is not skilled in playing mind games and went on to reference the former coach of Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson as a coach that was skilled in playing mind games.
UP THE REDS ✊🔴#LIVMUN pic.twitter.com/2gCvo4H0hh
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 15, 2021
His reference to Ferguson was because Mark Clattenburg is always seen as a referee that used to favor Manchester United during his active days especially when Ferguson was the manager of United.
“Am I surprised someone’s talking about what I have said? No,” said Klopp.
“Am I surprised that Mark Clattenburg speaks about it? No. But it’s nice for him we can talk about him as well.
“But I am not Sir Alex for different reasons. When people like Mark Clattenburg speak now it always says much more about them than it could ever about me.
“I have no skills in playing mind games, that is my problem.”
Liverpool vs Manchester United match will kick-off at 17:30 on Sunday, January 17. The top of the table clash which will be held at the Anfield Stadium could help to determine the major Premier League title contender for this season.
Manchester United are going into the league game as the table toppers with 36 points in 17 games after recording 11 wins, three draws, and three defeats. While Liverpool are placed second with 33 points in 17 games after recording 9 victories, 6 draws, and 2 defeats.
𝙎𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙚𝙩 👌
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 16, 2021
Fantastic finishes from Stevie and @Robbie9Fowler in a memorable win over @ManUtd from 2001 ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/bRFt7q9IGo
