While Liverpool is facing some challenges in trying to transform the team on the pitch, rivals Manchester United has struggled even more at the start of the season
Jurgen Klopp, head coach of Germany looks on prior to the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Greece and Germany
Jurgen Klopp has been told that he would struggle in Manchester United's circumstances(Image: (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images))
Former Liverpool captain Jamie Redknapp has claimed that even Jurgen Klopp would struggle at Manchester United, amid ongoing chaos at the club.
It follows a poor start for the Red Devils across all competitions, with just two wins for Michael Carrick all season, which has put the manager under immediate pressure. In the Premier League, Man United sits 13th with just six points from the opening six games, as the latest frustrations came in a 1-1 draw with Tottenham, with the ten men of the opposition fighting back to earn a point.
The concerns reached another level against Atletico Madrid in midweek, as Carrick's side fell to a 2-0 defeat, albeit with a better overall performance in the game.
While all eyes are on the manager's position, Man United star Lisandro Martinez seemed to direct pressure away from him when pointing some blame at the club hierarchy, questioning whether more could have been done during the summer transfer window.
It has added yet more chaos to a situation that the Old Trafford outfit is trying to push on from, with that sense of stability from last season being lost in the lack of good results this campaign.
As questions remain over Carrick's role, and the constant cycle of hiring and firing managers, former Liverpool star Redknapp has claimed that even an elite manager like Klopp would struggle in post at Man United, if he were to take on such a job.
Michael Carrick, head coach of Manchester United, greets the supporters during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD2 match between Atletico de Madrid and Manchester United
Michael Carrick is under mounting pressure at Manchester United(Image: (Photo By Oscar J. Barroso/Europa Press via Getty Images))
Speaking on the Overlap Daily, presented by Sky Vegas, he said: "I look at that back four and it’s pretty much the same back four as when I did a Brentford game, I don’t know how many years ago now, when they lost comfortably and got bashed up.
"Nothing’s changed. I look at that squad and I’m thinking, why are they not bringing in enough elite players? This is Manchester United. I don’t care – you can go and get Jurgen Klopp to manage that team, and they will struggle with that squad. They will struggle. You can go and sack Michael Carrick and say, ‘Right, now we can go and get another manager in.’
“First of all, who’s out there? Who are you going to take that’s going to be a vast improvement on what you’ve got? If you are a manager, of course you’ll always take the Man United job, but you’re looking at the state of this.
"Everyone’s having a go. Everyone’s got a view. You’ve got players coming out. There’s no camaraderie, no togetherness, and they’ve got tough games coming up.”
There is still time for Man United to turn things around, though the matches don't get much easier. A trip to Leeds United is up next, before facing off against the likes of Bournemouth, Chelsea, and Aston Villa in the next month.
That is all before a return from the international break against Liverpool, where both teams will be keen to be picking up some form after slow starts to the season.