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Jurgen Klopp aims dig at Erik ten Hag and Man Utd hours before Liverpool FA Cup clash

Jurgen Klopp aims dig at Erik ten Hag and Man Utd hours before Liverpool FA Cup clash

Klopp was responding to questions prior to the FA Cup quarter-final clash.

Ryan Smart

Ryan Smart

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has aimed a dig at Manchester United ahead of the FA Cup quarter-final clash between the two sides on Sunday.

United will host Liverpool at Old Trafford as both sides look to book their spot at Wembley later this year.

For Liverpool, they will continue their quest to complete a historic quadruple, having already lifted the Carabao Cup at Wembley. They are still in contention to win the FA Cup, Premier League and Europa League in what is Klopp's final season in charge.

Today is not the last time the German will travel to Old Trafford as an opposition manager, as the two sides face off in the Premier League next month.

But speaking ahead of the FA Cup clash, Klopp insisted that Liverpool's rivalry with United is no bigger than that with any of the other top clubs in English football - and referenced a Sir Alex Ferguson quote.

He said: "I know the famous phrase with the perch, but I had other things to think about than Manchester United when I came.

"In my first year, Leicester won the league, then Chelsea and Manchester City. So nothing [special plans] with Manchester United.

"It's not me to think about anybody else. If we face United, yes [I want to beat them]. If we don't, they can do what they want. I can't influence it.

"I couldn't start building by thinking, 'We want to reach there'. I had to go step-by-step."

In 2002, Ferguson infamously told The Guardian that his greatest challenge in football was 'knocking Liverpool right off their f***ing perch'.

And while the Scot elevated United above Liverpool consistently during his time in charge, the balance has tipped firmly in the other direction since his 2013 departure.

United have finished above Liverpool in the Premier League on five occasions since then, including last season under Erik ten Hag, but the gap between the two sides looks as wide as it has been in some time at the current moment.

Featured Image Credit: Getty / Liverpool FC

Topics: Liverpool, Manchester United, FA Cup, Jurgen Klopp, Sir Alex Ferguson, Erik Ten Hag

Live in constant hope of the top flight as a Preston North End fan. Written in the past for SPORF, GiveMeSport and more.