Erik ten Hag says he and his Manchester United players are relishing the hostile atmosphere that awaits them at arch-rivals Liverpool.
Ten Hag takes his resurgent United side to Anfield on Sunday for what he knows will be another huge test of their recent revival under him. Although sixth-placed Liverpool trail third-placed United by 10 points in the Premier League, the Red Devils will face a tough examination.
It will be Ten Hag's first experience of the toxic rivalry at United's fiercest rivals – but the Dutchman said he and his side thrive on such hostility. “I'm looking forward to it, the ambience, the atmosphere,” said Ten Hag. “It will be great, it will be hostile against us, but we like that.
“Of course it's a test, but we're facing Liverpool, we're really looking forward to it and I know these players, my squad, my team, will be prepared to go there and fight and to go with confidence. We know it's going to be difficult, we know we will have to suffer and we will have to sacrifice to get a good result.
“We have to play and to make it our game. Of course, we know the ambience will not be supporting us and you have to deal with that. But, as I said, our players, they like it. They like to play in such atmospheres.”
Ten Hag has been to Anfield before, with former club Ajax, although their 1-0 Champions League defeat in December 2020 was during the pandemic and played behind closed doors.
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A 2-1 win over Liverpool, after starting his United reign with back-to-back defeats to Brighton and Brentford, proved the turning point for Ten Hag. But the 53-year-old is keen to look forwards, rather than backwards, and build on the impressive form his side have shown over the last six months.
“That was a few months back, now we are in a different process,” said Ten Hag. “It's a different period, so I don't look back, I look forward. I look forward to Sunday and I'm really going to enjoy this [trip to Anfield]. I think we're in a good direction, and with our philosophy, strategy and culture, we have to keep making progress. It's all about that.
“I think our team, our mentality in general, is very good. I think we also have many leaders who set the mentality, who set the standards, who control the standards and who correct if necessary. We're happy with this process, but it can always be better. That has to be the approach.”
