Mauricio Pochettino is reportedly close to taking over as Manchester United manager with the Old Trafford side next in action at Liverpool
Mauricio Pochettino and Andoni Iraola
Mauricio Pochettino and Andoni Iraola(Image: Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)
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The majority of Liverpool supporters have seen it coming a mile off. Weeks ago, amid the amusement at watching from afar as Michael Carrick became the latest in a long line of Manchester United managers to have matters slowly unravel, there was a realisation at the inevitability of what was around the corner.
United would wait until the November international break. They would then sack Carrick, appoint a new boss and inject confidence with a fresh start and belief ahead of the team's first game back in action.
At Liverpool on Sunday week.
READ MORE: What Lewis Koumas did after Andoni Iraola change as Liverpool dressing room talk revealed
With Carrick on the verge of being pushed by United - it is, after all, easier to sack a manager than a host of players who have made a habit of only turn up when they fancy it - widespread reports indicate United States national team coach Mauricio Pochettino will be the next in the hot seat at Old Trafford.
Liverpool have already had to deal with the supposed 'new manager bounce' this season with Matthias Jaissle's first competitive game in charge of Newcastle United the 2-2 home draw with Liverpool on the opening weekend. Last season, the Reds won at Nottingham Forest days after Vitor Pereira had been appointed boss at the City Ground.
The meeting of bitter North West rivals Liverpool and United can occasionally be pivotal in shaping the future of managers.
Jose Mourinho was sacked as United boss after losing 3-1 at Liverpool in December 2018, although Ole Gunnar Solskjaer managed to limp on for a month after the 5-0 home loss to the Reds in October 2021 before being dismissed.
Roy Hodgson was axed by Liverpool shortly before an FA Cup trip to Old Trafford in January 2011, while Erik Ten Hag's first win after two alarming losses as United boss came at home to the Reds in August 2022 after which they finished above them in the Premier League.
What, then, of Pochettino himself?
His record against Liverpool as a manager is not great. In 19 games he has won just three times - twice with Southampton and once with Tottenham Hotspur. His last clash against the Reds was the League Cup final loss with Chelsea in 2024.
Of those three victories, two came in his first two games against Liverpool with Brendan Rodgers in the opposing dugout. The other was the 4-1 triumph over Jurgen Klopp's side at Wembley in 2017.
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Mauricio Pochettino, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur and Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool shake hands priror to the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium on October 22, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)
Mauricio Pochettino and Jurgen Klopp shake hands priror to the Premier League match at Wembley(Image: Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)
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Indeed, of all the clubs he has faced at least 10 times, against only Real Madrid does Pochettino have a worse points-per-game ratio.
Against Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth in 2023/24, Pochettino's Chelsea drew away and had a narrow home win on the final day of the season.
But regardless of who United boss is on November 21, Liverpool know they need to improve both their home Premier League record under Iraola - five points from 15 at Anfield this season compared to 13 on the road from the same number of games - and their recent form against the Old Trafford side.
Carrick won 3-2 in his only meeting thus far against Liverpool as United boss, while predecessor Ruben Amorim won and drew at Anfield. And although Ten Hag did lose 7-0 away and 3-0 at home, he won two and drew two of the other four meetings.
It means Liverpool have won only one of the last seven meetings with United and none of the last three at home. New manager bounce or not, the Reds need to address that shortcoming.