Jurgen Klopp sends another message to Marcus Rashford despite “impossible” problem.
Jurgen Klopp admits he can’t find anything ‘positive’ about Manchester United, but Liverpool manager still singles out Marcus Rashford for lavish praise
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has put aside the club’s bitter animosities to admit he is “delighted” to see Marcus Rashford in the shape of his life for Manchester United.
Rashford, 25, will be the biggest threat as United travel to Anfield on Sunday night for a highly anticipated North-West Derby. The England international has scored an impressive 25 goals in all competitions this season, including 14 in the Premier League, surpassing his previous record of 22.
His last goal came in the Carabao Cup final last Sunday as the Red Devils beat Newcastle 2-0 at Wembley Stadium, ending their six-year wait for the trophy. Understandably, Klopp is wary of the threat from the red-hot striker, hailing his all-round play and admitting that he is “playing amazingly” for arch-rivals Liverpool. “It’s impossible to be positive about anything at Manchester United when you’re manager of Liverpool, but I’m happy for Rashford,” Klopp said in his press conference on Friday morning. “He plays amazingly. Speed, composure, a mix of everything.”
Klopp’s praise for Rashford comes a month after he hailed the United Academy graduate as one of the “best examples” for his struggling Liverpool players to follow. The two rival clubs have had drastically different seasons; the Red Devils have enjoyed a resurgence under Erik ten Hag and remain in the hunt for three more trophies following their Carabao Cup success, while Liverpool have inexplicably struggled following last season’s quadruple tie which saw them win two trophies.
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“You have to deal with that,” Klopp said of his side’s poor form in early February as they finished ninth in the league. “Of course, some players haven’t reached the level that we have always reached.
“One of the best examples is Marcus Rashford, the season he had last year and this year. I don’t know if he can even explain it. That’s how it works. The time between these two extremes, you have to work your way through.”
Klopp will hope Liverpool enjoy a Rashford-style revival when United call Anfield on Sunday. The German knows form tends to go out the window on Derby day and added on Friday: “They (United) have had a better season so far but thank goodness that means absolutely nothing on Sunday.
“We have to make sure we show that we are still incredibly difficult to come up against. We have to make sure they realize that. I couldn’t have been less interested in what Man United are doing, I respect that. merely. “ I see them when we analyze them and we will try to cause more problems than [Liverpool’s 2-1 loss to United last August].