It’s the BIG ONE today

Can Klopp stop Gunnar’s Pogba-fired Man United juggernaut

● There comes a moment in every Premier League season when you think: “That’s it. That is where the title was won or lost.” For Liverpool, you cannot avoid the feeling it may arrive this week.

Jurgen Klopp leads his team to Old Trafford today and Goodison Park next Sunday — two of the biggest games in any season, where the stakes are even higher this year. If the title is still in Liverpool’s hands after the next eight days — and they continue to fight off Manchester City — this is a week everyone at Anfield will look to when re-telling the story of the campaign.

If not, and City go on to retain their crown, Liverpool’s greatest rivals will feel they have salvaged something precious and memorable from their own, generally underwhelming campaign. They will have cause to celebrate a massive contribution to stopping Liverpool winning the league.

For all the recent, premature talk about increasing pressure, or even nervousness in the title race, the decisive twist is yet to come. Including Liverpool’s forthcoming home game with Watford, these are the sequences of fixtures that stand out as being potentially defining.

Over the past few weeks rival fans were watching and asking the same question over and over again: Can Klopp’s side really get over the line? Will the weight of history get to them? Any lingering doubts about going the distance will be erased if Liverpool achieve positive results against Manchester United and Everton. Nothing will be taken for granted against any other side, but they will feel the two biggest hurdles have been overcome.

But — and it’s a big but — the statistics are worrying for Liverpool. Since becoming a trio, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah have been less effective against Manchester United than any other side. They have a solitary goal between them in 699 minutes. United are one of only two clubs Salah has faced and failed to score against in the Premier League since his move to England (the other being Swansea).

And then there’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. His impact on a team that was labouring under Jose Mourinho has surpassed expectations, and he has guided United into fourth place in the league on the back of a run of eight wins and a draw in nine league games since taking charge.

He even joked late this week that he might invite Alex Ferguson to deliver Manchester United’s team talk before today’s match. The legendary former United manager has acted as Solskjaer’s mentor since the Norwegian took over as the club’s interim boss. Solskjaer said he would summon the spirit of his old leader before kick-off.

“He would be welcome to have his talk to the players if he wanted to,” said Solskjaer. “Because we know how much it meant for him to overtake Liverpool. For them, it’s a big game, for us, it’s a big game.”

United’s strong domestic form in recent weeks has ensured they are no longer underdogs after Liverpool handed United a

Build your team around Paul Pogba ... he’s a top player Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Manchester United interim coach

3-1 defeat in their last meeting at Anfield in December which led to former manager Jose Mourinho’s dismissal and Solskjaer’s appointment.

Solskjaer has since turned United’s bleak season around with 11 wins in their last 13 games in all competitions, losing just once to Paris St Germain in their Champions League last-16 tie.

Now, having been revitalised under the interim manager, Solskjaer believes Paul Pogba is the best midfielder in the world of his type. “If you build your team around Paul Pogba, I said a couple of years back before I thought I would be manager, he’s a top, top player I’ve always liked,” said Solskjaer.

“He’s a World Cup winner, a leader in the dressing room, wants the ball all the time. My idea was to get him playing to the best of his ability as an attacking midfielder. — © The Daily Telegraph, London, AFP and Reuters