MX23RW : Monday, February 25 21:05:21

Klopp has "no doubt" Solskjaer will become permanent United manager

Klopp has
© Reuters
Liverpool can return to the top of the Premier League by securing at least a draw at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has endorsed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's bid to become the permanent successor to Jose Mourinho at Manchester United.

Defeat at Anfield in mid-December proved to be the final straw for the United hierarchy as Mourinho was sacked, with Solskjaer taking charge on an interim basis until the end of the season.

The Norwegian has presided over a remarkable transformation since then, winning 11 of his 13 fixtures in charge, catapulting United back into contention for a top-four Premier League finish.

Jose Mourinho File Photo
Jose Mourinho's time as Manchester United manager was up two days after a 3-1 defeat at Liverpool on December 16. (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Solskjaer's only blemish came with a 2-0 loss against Paris St Germain at Old Trafford in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 encounter earlier this month, leaving him the firm favourite to take over full-time, according to Klopp.

Ahead of Liverpool's trip to United this weekend, Klopp said: "He has the quality and he had the luck in the right moment, he's in charge and there is no doubt that he will be the manager next year as well, that's clear.

"Can you imagine one situation when they say 'We are bringing in another manager'? Then a new manager will lose one game and that's not possible.

"He deserves that 100 per cent. He did everything that you have to do to be successful with them.

"The way they play is obviously different. Everything what I could say now is people make a story that it sounds like I'm disrespectful towards Jose Mourinho and there's no reason for that because he's an outstanding manager.

"It looked like in the end they had a difficult time together and they found a solution for them to improve the situation and that obviously worked out since Ole is there.

"Sometimes that's how it is, you need some changes and in football it's very often the manager. In this case obviously, it helped."

Solskjaer's previous managerial experience before taking the reins had come at his native Molde either side of an ill-fated stint at Cardiff.

Manchester United v West Brom – Solksjaer
Klopp believes Solskjaer's former stint as a United player earned him the opportunity to manage the club (Gareth Copley/PA) 

Yet Klopp pointed out that experience has to be earned and that Solskjaer, as a former United striker, has taken advantage of his opportunity.

Klopp added: "We all need luck in our life and managerial careers. When I went from Mainz to Dortmund, people said I had no international experience – that was true.

"But it's not something you can buy or whatever, you have to make it.

"If Ole is not a former player of Manchester United then he will not have made the move from Norway to Manchester United, that's clear.

"But if you get the chance, you have to use it and of course he's showed everything that you need together with his coaches, they have made a few smart decisions. It worked out."

Klopp will again be without defensive duo Dejan Lovren and Joe Gomez on Sunday afternoon because of a hamstring injury and a broken leg respectively.

Fellow centre-back Virgil van Dijk returns to bolster the back-line after missing the midweek draw against Bayern Munich because of suspension.

Liverpool will go back to the top of the Premier League table if they avoid defeat against their north-west rivals – with Manchester City taking on Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final later on Sunday.

Looking ahead to the derby, Klopp added: "It's a big one and we know that it's a difficult one as well. They are in a good moment, they are physically strong, they defend well, they attack well.

"They are full of confidence. We will go there and try everything to get a result there. You never know, two strong teams will face each other. It's open until the final whistle."

Klopp was speaking a day on from being fined £45,000 by the Football Association for comments made about referee Kevin Friend following a draw with West Ham earlier this month.

Asked for his reaction, the German added: "I will not make any comments about that because comments are pretty expensive."


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Sadio Mane gets the opener during the Premier League game between Liverpool and Manchester United on December 16, 2018
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool27206159154466
2Manchester CityMan City27212474205465
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs27200755272860
4Arsenal27165655371853
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd27157552351752
6Chelsea26155645291650
7Watford2711793935440
8Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2711793534140
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham27106113540-536
10Bournemouth27104133848-1034
11Everton2796123639-333
12Leicester CityLeicester2795133238-632
13Crystal Palace2786133135-430
14Burnley2786133148-1730
15Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2777132434-1028
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2676132839-1127
17Cardiff CityCardiff2774162552-2725
18Southampton2759132846-1824
19Fulham2745182661-3517
20Huddersfield TownHuddersfield2725201450-3611

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