There is an argument that Liverpool’s victory over Manchester United last season made things more difficult for Jürgen Klopp’s team this season. It’s an argument that Klopp is eager to engage in.

Jürgen Klopp with Erik ten Hag prior to Liverpool’s 7-0 victory over Manchester United.

While Liverpool dominated a Manchester United side that crumbled in the second half at Anfield in March, Erik ten Hag will be empowered to sit deep this time. The possibilities of an offensive, expansive performance are limited.

Not only did Manchester United lose badly to Liverpool the last time they met, but they are also dealing with an injury crisis, with Jonny Evans expected to start at the back. Marcus Rashford is expected to return, while Bruno Fernandes is suspended.

That kind of low block, which Ten Hag will be able to persuade his men to accept given the circumstances, is going to make things difficult for Liverpool. Manchester United seemed to want to sit back and try to counter.

Liverpool’s job will be to make it difficult for it to flee. While a low block is easy to sell to players (and fans) worried about another beating, it is more difficult to deploy against waves of Reds attacks (or, at the very least, that will be Liverpool’s job: to make it difficult).

“Yes, I do not like all this talk around it,” Klopp stated during his pre-match press conference, referring to the previous loss and Manchester United’s current slump. “It’s always this way. The more negative things spoken about them, the stronger they will appear. That is always true. That bothers me.

“I’m not aware of the situation there.” I’m curious about our position. It’s a home game, and we have to be there. We’re in our own stadium, so we have to create an atmosphere and go for it without thinking about anything else.

“From our perspective, I will ensure that we are completely focused on the right things.” But we are human, and there is noise around, and when I am conscious of it, it signifies that something is certainly going on.”

Part of the task will be to drown out the noise and focus on the game being played on the Anfield pitch. On the one hand, Klopp is correct in urging caution over overconfidence, yet Liverpool has frequently proven to be adept at playing the game at hand rather than the occasion.

Klopp has described Everton as ‘simply another game’ on multiple occasions, including the most recent Merseyside derby. Liverpool, like Manchester United, is superior than its cross-city rival, and if the game is played solely on those terms, the appropriate winner will emerge.

Whatever the circumstances, Liverpool must be ruthless in demonstrating just how large the gap is to Manchester United on Sunday – even if another seven-goal deficit is out of the question, three points are a must.