CULTURE CHANGE CAN BE QUICK

LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp has given Erik ten Hag hope that Manchester United’s failing stars could deliver the high-energy football the Dutchman wants.

Klopp changed Liverpool’s whole culture when he took over from Brendan Rodgers in 2015, introducing the heavy metal brand of football the German boss demands. And although interim boss Ralf Rangnick quickly abandoned the high press, claiming United’s stars did not have the physicality to execute his plan, Klopp believes all things are possible given time.

“I can’t sit here before we play United and create headlines. If I say ‘yes’ and it’s just a matter of telling them how to do it or I say ‘no’ they can’t do it, then we have a real mess.

“You can ask me now: can we play Pep Guardiola football? I’d say probably, we can be good if I coach it. It could be possible. But I have nothing to say about Manchester United. It’s not my subject.

“Yes, my players adapted. In our first game we only had two days to prepare and just one session.

“For the first impression of an idea it was outstanding. I can still see Adam Lallana (left) flying around pressing everyone who wore a different shirt. That was really cool. So it worked the first time for me, yes.”