Says Solskjaer not to blame if Liverpool miss Champions League
Jurgen Klopp will be looking for his first win at Old Trafford at the seventh attempt (D4 L2) when his team face Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side this evening in a rescheduled Premier League game.
Klopp has had more trips to Manchester United without ever winning than he has away against any other opponent in his managerial career and he will be facing a rejuvenated Manchester United side that have lost just one of their last 15 home matches against Liverpool in all competitions (W10 D4), and are unbeaten in their last eight since a 3-0 loss in March 2014.
The German tactician will however be buoyed by the fact that Liverpool have lost just one of their last nine Premier League meetings with Man United (W2 D6), and are unbeaten in five against them (W2 D3).
Meanwhile, Klopp has said Liverpool will only have themselves to blame if they fail to qualify for the Champions League next season following Manchester Uinted’s decision to field a weakened team in the 2-1 loss to Leicester City on Tuesday.
Solskjaer made 10 changes for Tuesday’s 2-1 home defeat that moved Leicester nine points ahead of Liverpool in the battle for a top-four finish.
Solskjaer was furious after the Premier League ordered United to play three matches in five days but Klopp said the rearranged schedule also had a knock-on effect for other clubs.
“The explanation from the Premier League was that no other team should suffer because of what happened in Manchester and that didn’t work out pretty well, a little bit for West Ham (United) and a little bit for Liverpool,” Klopp told reporters.
“But if we don’t qualify for the Champions League it is not the fault of Solskjaer and his team selection or the Premier League, it’s our fault.
“In this specific case, I think it could have been done differently. But we get more and more used to things rarely going in your favour or direction. It is just accepted as how it is.”
Liverpool are sixth on 57 points having played two games less than fourth-placed Chelsea (64). West Ham are fifth with 58 points having played one game more than Klopp’s side.