New Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has already labelled Liverpool 'the best team in the world'.
The Dutchman has this morning been named as the person to take over from Ralf Rangnick at Old Trafford this summer. Having been in charge of Ajax since 2017, the 52-year-old has won two Eredivisie titles and took the club to the Champions League semi-finals in 2019.
Liverpool faced Ten Hag’s side in the Champions League group stages last season and the coach was glowing in his assessment of the Reds. Speaking ahead of Liverpool’s eventual 1-0 win in Amsterdam - and just a few days after Virgil van Dijk’s season-ending injury - Ten Hag gave huge plaudits to Jurgen Klopp’s side.
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"Of course Liverpool are a big challenge," he said in October 2020. "They are currently the best team in the world.
"If you win the Champions League and Premier League in two years then you are a strong contender for [another] Champions League title. I don't know [how much Van Dijk's injury with affect Liverpool]. At the end of the day it is about who is still playing.
"It's not going to be a different Liverpool, they always play the same. Their principles are hammered in and they can easily switch with the quality they have. The quality of Man A can switch to Man B.”
A Nicolas Tagliafico own goal was enough to ensure the three points for Liverpool in their first meeting with Ajax since 1966. In the subsequent home tie at Anfield in December 2020, Curtis Jones’ second-half effort gave Liverpool the win as Jurgen Klopp continued to deal with his increasingly injury-laden squad last term.
