English football's biggest rivalry historically gets its latest episode on Saturday afternoon when Liverpool host Manchester United. Jamie Carragher has claimed there's one reason his former club are behind their rivals.
Liverpool and Manchester United will always be tied together, and not just because of the M62. From the moment that Sir Alex Ferguson said that he was going to knock the Merseysiders 'off their perch' it was inevitable that the two sides would forever be at each other's throats.
Of course Fergie would eventually do what he set out to and overhaul Liverpool as the most successful top tier side in English football but since the Scotsman retired things have once again got closer with Liverpool finishing above United in the table last season.
Carragher is no stranger to what these matches mean. Image: PA
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The Red Devils though have had the better start to the season and along with their other rivals, Manchester City, look like one of the favourites for the title whilst the Reds are a little off the pace.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, writing for the Telegraph, explained just why he believes Jose Mourinho's side are now back ahead of Jurgen Klopp's team, saying:
"Last summer Liverpool and United were in a similar position; preparing for the Champions League, knowing to go up a level and be serious title contenders they had to make the right signings.
"United, in sixth, acted. Liverpool, in fourth, did not. This is a trend. It is typical of what happened when Brendan Rodgers and (under previous owners) Rafa Benítez and Gérard Houllier had their best sides.
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"Houllier, Benítez and Rodgers were in a position where they needed one more step to give good teams an even better chance of winning the title. They could not do it. My fear is Klopp will be looking back at the summer as his opportunity spurned.
"Instead, Jose Mourinho goes to Anfield on Saturday as a genuine challenger and Liverpool's lingering flaws remain glaringly obvious. This is a fundamental difference between the modern Liverpool and United: one club recognised its weakness and fixed it, and the other is beset by the same problems."
Hostilities will be renewed at Anfield this weekend. Image: PA
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Carragher further condensed the problem citing United's signing of Romelu Lukaku and his own side's failed pursuit of Virgil van Dijk as the example, adding, "Liverpool conceded too many goals so wanted Virgil Van Dijk. They put themselves into a position where he was ready to join but messed up. Instead of lining up alternatives they spent the summer hoping Southampton would change their mind.
"It was Van Dijk or no one, which led to the season starting with Liverpool continuing to concede soft goals, failing to win games they dominate, dropping points to teams in the bottom half."
Will that be brought into greater focus on Saturday when Lukaku comes up against Liverpool's defence?
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Liverpool, Football News, Jose Mourinho, Manchester United, Premier League, Jurgen Klopp, Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher