Shortly after Klopp’s arrival in England the legendary former manager of United, Sir Alex Ferguson, a man who delivered 38 trophies in 26 seasons at Old Trafford to wrestle dominance away from Liverpool after they reigned supreme over England and Europe during most of the 1970s and 80s, had this to say.
“I’m worried about him [Klopp] because the one thing United don’t want is Liverpool to get above us,” Ferguson said. “He’s a fantastic personality, with those big white teeth always showing… I know him quite well from the coaching seminars. He’s going to make a difference at that club with his personality, drive and knowledge. Things are looking up there.”
There’s no doubt that things are looking up at Liverpool, while the opposite could be said for United as they continue to judder along in neutral, coasting under Louis Van Gaal into a myriad of inconsistency amid severe short term-ism.
There’s also no doubt that all week Klopp has been made aware by fans, staff at the club and locals on Merseyside as to how big of a deal this game on Sunday is. He knows.
Almost two weeks before the latest Liverpool-Manchester United clash, after his side beat Sunderland on Dec. 30 to go level on points with United to end 2015, Klopp was already fanning the flames of one of the greatest soccer rivalries in the world.
“I don’t know [about a title challenge], but you can see we both have 30 points. In this moment Liverpool FC feels good, but at Man United the atmosphere is not the best,” Klopp said.
With Klopp, 48, signing a three-year contract, with the option for a fourth, to lead Liverpool back in October following the firing of Brendan Rodgers, a long-term plan to return the Reds to greatness is evident with the enigmatic German having the media like putty in his hands during every press conference and fans foaming at the mouth with his passionate persona on the sidelines.
On that morning of his unveiling back on Oct. 9, the euphoria of Klopp’s arrival was palpable. I was there. I flew up to Manchester that morning and got a cab across to Liverpool. All of the national newspapers had Klopp’s photo on them, with the former Borussia Dortmund boss grinning cheekily and holding the famous red and white scarf proudly. During the press conference he held court with over a hundred members of the media, keeping everybody captivated. Klopp dubbed himself as “The Normal One” when pressed for a comparison to Jose Mourinho’s self-proclamation as “The Special One” during his own unveiling after arriving in England for the first time. More tellingly, trophies were already at the forefront of Klopp’s thoughts.
“We [Klopp and his staff] could start in a very difficult league but in a special Liverpool way we can be successful,” Klopp said. “We can’t wait for it, I don’t want to say we can wait 20 years. If we sit here in four years, I think we win one title. I’m pretty sure.”
Despite an up and down start to life at Anfield due to injuries, fixture congestion and the difficulty of coming in mid-season, there’s a sense Klopp is grinding through the gears as he figures Liverpool and England out. A sense of foreboding also seems to have overtaken a vast majority of United’s fans. They don’t want to admit it, and many still won’t, but we are on the cusp of Liverpool once again taking over the North West of England and, in that vacuum of soccer exceptionalism, that means the universe.
It will take time. This won’t happen overnight and a win in the derby on Sunday won’t be do or die for either team. Both teams head into this game on the back of thrilling 3-3 draws in midweek which probably gave their managers more questions than answers as to where they’re heading.
However, the next 6-12 months are crucial periods for both teams and Liverpool seem better set than United to negotiate the rigors of the Premier League and return to past glories. Klopp will be given money to spend in the summer to transform his team and build what the American owners (Fenway Sports Group, fronted by John W. Henry) hope becomes a dynasty, just like it was before. The German will be able to mold his team and select his personnel to carry out the highly demanding high-pressing gegenpressing gameplan he developed and mastered at Dortmund.
It took Klopp three years at the Westfalenstadion but he delivered back-to-back Bundesliga titles and took them to the UEFA Champions League final while going head-to-head with fierce rivals Bayern Munich at the same time. Those lofty heights still seem a long way off at Liverpool. But, despite all of their riches and rich heritage, United’s fans are looking towards the red half of Merseyside with an envious glance as both teams tussle for a top four spot this season, plus both are in the Europa League last 32 and Liverpool are also in the League Cup semifinals with a trip to Wembley looming. Silverware for Klopp in his first half-season in charge at Anfield is a real possibility.
In stark contrast United haven’t won a single trophy since Ferguson retired in 2013. Current boss Van Gaal, 64 is under-fire. His team aren’t scoring, aren’t exciting to watch — something he had admitted — and he only has a contract until the end of next season. His assistant coach, Ryan Giggs, is being groomed as his successor but nobody knows if the United legend is ready for his first-ever head coaching job. The Red Devils are at a crossroads, something they haven’t had to navigate for the best part of three decades with the memories of the trophy-laden Ferguson era fast becoming blurry.
Like a swinging pendulum the axis of power has shifted from Merseyside to Manchester, and back, rhythmically over the past 50 years. United’s great teams led by Sir Bobby Charlton and George Best in the 1950s and 60s were preceded by Liverpool’s all-conquering squads of the 1970s and 80s as Kenny Dalglish and Graeme Souness delivered European Cups and league titles. The power then shifted back to United over the past two decades with Ferguson leading a golden generation of homegrown talent and then the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney to domestic and continental glory. More recently Liverpool’s smattering of trophies — albeit the UEFA Champions League in 2005 and two FA Cups and three League Cups over the past 15 years — has been inconsistent, there has been no total domination of England and Europe and no league title since 1990.
United’s long-term dominance over Liverpool is now under serious threat and the man who will taste his first Liverpool vs. Manchester United derby on Sunday is the man who is capable of delivering that success to Liverpool and disdain to Manchester United.
If Klopp would’ve held on for a few months before taking the Liverpool job in October then the likes of Real Madrid, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and maybe even United, with constant reports claiming Van Gaal could leave at the end of this season, would have made him their first choice to take over. However, he chose Liverpool and even though the huge challenge of returning them to a perennial title contender isn’t insurmountable, it will be his biggest challenge in management to date. Klopp has a plan and if making that plan a reality coincides with the downturn in United’s fortunes, one where finishing in fourth place is deemed a failure, then it would make its completion even sweeter for everyone connected with Liverpool Football Club.
When Klopp steps into the cauldron of noise at Anfield on Sunday it will be his greatest example yet of the special atmosphere supporters of his club generate. In turn they hope Klopp can orchestrate special times returning to Anfield while at the same time leaving their bitter rivals in their wake.
The result leaves Manchester United (43 points) 3rd in the Premier League table, now just two points back of two-time defending champions Manchester City and seven behind leaders Arsenal. Leeds (19 points), meanwhile, move one point and one place (up to 16th, from 17th) clear of the relegation zone as they begin the post-Jesse Marsch era.
Leeds raced out to a 1-0 with just 56 seconds on the clock, after Tyler Adams and Pascal Struijk combined to win the ball back in Manchester United’s defensive third. The ball was quickly circulated to Wilfried Gnonto, who cut in front the left side and fired low, from the top of the penalty area, and beat David de Gea just inside his right-hand post.
Raphael Varane put the ball in his own net to make it 2-0 in the 48th minute, as Crysencio Summerville walked the end line and crossed the ball off the Frenchman at the near post.
The comeback began shortly after the hour mark, when Marcus Rashford rose highest near the penalty spot to meet Diogo Dalot’s cross, given the red-hot Englishman 12 goals in 14 games (plus four assists – all competitions) since returning from the 2022 World Cup break.
11 minutes after he came off the bench, Jadon Sancho fired past Illan Meslier to make it 2-2, and the big, gloved Frenchman will feel he should have made the save as the ball was hit well within his reach but went off, and under, his hands.
Leeds will host Manchester United at Elland Road in each sides’ next Premier League fixture, in just four days’ time (Watch live, Sunday, 9 am ET, on USA Network and online via NBCSports.com).
How to watch Manchester United vs Leeds live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 3pm ET, Wednesday TV Channel: USA Network Online:Stream via NBCSports.com
Key storylines & star players
Marcus Rashford had scored in six of United’s last seven Premier League matches and he’s zipped up the PL goals list as one of just six players with at least 10 goals this season.
One player Rashford is likely to pass is fellow 10-goal man Rodrigo, who will not play for Leeds. The visitors will be looking to new signings Georginio Rutter and Weston McKennie to help lead the way, while Wilfried Gnonto and Jack Harrison seem likely to keep pestering opponents with pace.
Manchester United team news, injuries, lineup options
QUESTIONABLE: Antony (lower leg). OUT: Mason Greenwood (suspension), Anthony Martial (undisclosed), Scott McTominay (other), Casemiro (suspension), Christian Eriksen (ankle), Donny van de Beek (knee)
The 2022-23 Premier League fixtures are front and center as the new season has delivered so much drama so far and normal service has resumed after the World Cup break.
Remember: you can watch all 380 Premier League games across NBC, USA Network, NBCSports.com and Peacock. We’ve got you covered.
Will Manchester City win yet another Premier League title? Can Chelsea and Liverpool push them all the way? How will Manchester United’s new-look side fare? What about Tottenham and Arsenal? How will the new boys get on? Who will be the surprise package?
Those questions will be answered from August 2022 to May 2023, with the full list of Premier League fixtures.
While below are the answers to all of the questions you have around the Premier League fixtures and everything else you need to know for the upcoming season, with full details on the Premier League TV schedule across the NBC family of channels and more.
The Premier League fixtures for the 2022-23 season were announced on Thursday June 16, 2022 at 4am ET. Below is the full schedule, as you can watch all 380 games across our NBC platforms.
The Premier League fixture computer decides who plays who and when, as teams located close to one another are usually playing at home on opposite weekends to help with policing, crowd control and transport congestion in those areas.
When will the Premier League take a break for the 2022 World Cup?
When will the 2022-23 Premier League season finish?
The final day of the season will be on Sunday, May 28, 2023.
Which teams will compete in the 2022-23 Premier League?
These are the 20 teams which will compete in the Premier League for the upcoming season:
Arsenal, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Brentford, Brighton and Hove Albion, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Everton, Fulham, Leeds United, Leicester City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers
Predictions for 2022-23 Premier League season
We made a few bold predictions ahead of the Premier League campaign, which you can read in full here. And we’ve also predicted how we think the Premier League table will look at the end of the 2022-23 campaign. I’m sure you agree wholeheartedly with these predictions…
2022-23 Premier League TV schedule
Below are the Premier League fixtures in full, with all kick offs listed at 10am ET unless otherwise stated:
9am: Leeds v Man Utd – USA Network – WATCH LIVE
11:30am: Man City v Aston Villa – USA Network – WATCH LIVE
Monday 13 February
3pm: Liverpool v Everton – USA Network – WATCH LIVE
Matchweek 24
Wednesday 15 February
2:30pm: Arsenal vs Manchester City (rearranged)
Saturday 18 February
7:30am: Aston Villa v Arsenal
Brentford v Crystal Palace
Brighton v Fulham
Chelsea v Southampton
Everton v Leeds
Nottingham Forest v Man City
Wolves v AFC Bournemouth
12:30pm: Newcastle v Liverpool
Sunday 19 February
9am: Man Utd v Leicester
11:30am: Spurs v West Ham
Matchweek 25
Friday 24 February
3pm: Fulham v Wolves
Saturday 25 February
7:30am: Newcastle v Brighton
Everton v Aston Villa
Leeds v Southampton
Leicester v Arsenal
West Ham v Nottingham Forest
12:30pm: AFC Bournemouth v Man City *subject to EFL Cup Final
2:45pm: Crystal Palace v Liverpool ^If Liverpool are not in EFL fifth round and if AFC Bournemouth or Man City progress to EFL Cup final, this match will move to 17:30 and remain on Sky Sports
Sunday 26 February
8:30am: Man Utd v Brentford* Due to UEFA Europa League playoff round
8:30am: Spurs v Chelsea
Saturday 4 March
Arsenal v AFC Bournemouth
Aston Villa v Crystal Palace
Brentford v Fulham
Brighton v West Ham
Chelsea v Leeds
Liverpool v Man Utd
Man City v Newcastle
Nottingham Forest v Everton
Southampton v Leicester
Wolves v Spurs
Saturday 11 March
AFC Bournemouth v Liverpool
Crystal Palace v Man City
Everton v Brentford
Fulham v Arsenal
Leeds v Brighton
Leicester v Chelsea
Man Utd v Southampton
Newcastle v Wolves
Spurs v Nottingham Forest
West Ham v Aston Villa
Saturday 18 March
Arsenal v Crystal Palace
Aston Villa v AFC Bournemouth
Brentford v Leicester
Brighton v Man Utd
Chelsea v Everton
Liverpool v Fulham
Man City v West Ham
Nottingham Forest v Newcastle
Southampton v Spurs
Wolves v Leeds
Saturday 1 April
AFC Bournemouth v Fulham
Arsenal v Leeds
Brighton v Brentford
Chelsea v Aston Villa
Crystal Palace v Leicester
Everton v Spurs
Man City v Liverpool
Newcastle v Man Utd
Nottingham Forest v Wolves
West Ham v Southampton
Saturday 8 April
Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest
Brentford v Newcastle
Fulham v West Ham
Leeds v Crystal Palace
Leicester v AFC Bournemouth
Liverpool v Arsenal
Man Utd v Everton
Southampton v Man City
Spurs v Brighton
Wolves v Chelsea
Saturday 15 April
Aston Villa v Newcastle
Chelsea v Brighton
Everton v Fulham
Leeds v Liverpool
Man City v Leicester
Nottingham Forest v Man Utd
Southampton v Crystal Palace
Spurs v AFC Bournemouth
West Ham v Arsenal
Wolves v Brentford
Saturday 22 April
AFC Bournemouth v West Ham
Arsenal v Southampton
Brentford v Aston Villa
Brighton v Man City
Crystal Palace v Everton
Fulham v Leeds
Leicester v Wolves
Liverpool v Nottingham Forest
Man Utd v Chelsea
Newcastle v Spurs
Tuesday 25 April
19:45 Everton v Newcastle
19:45 Leeds v Leicester
19:45 Nottingham Forest v Brighton
19:45 Spurs v Man Utd
19:45 West Ham v Liverpool
19:45 Wolves v Crystal Palace
20:00 Aston Villa v Fulham
Wednesday 26 April
19:45 Chelsea v Brentford
19:45 Southampton v AFC Bournemouth
20:00 Man City v Arsenal
Saturday 29 April
AFC Bournemouth v Leeds
Arsenal v Chelsea
Brentford v Nottingham Forest
Brighton v Wolves
Crystal Palace v West Ham
Fulham v Man City
Leicester v Everton
Liverpool v Spurs
Man Utd v Aston Villa
Newcastle v Southampton
Saturday 6 May
AFC Bournemouth v Chelsea
Brighton v Everton
Fulham v Leicester
Liverpool v Brentford
Man City v Leeds
Newcastle v Arsenal
Nottingham Forest v Southampton
Spurs v Crystal Palace
West Ham v Man Utd
Wolves v Aston Villa
Saturday 13 May
Arsenal v Brighton
Aston Villa v Spurs
Brentford v West Ham
Chelsea v Nottingham Forest
Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth
Everton v Man City
Leeds v Newcastle
Leicester v Liverpool
Man Utd v Wolves
Southampton v Fulham
Saturday 20 May
AFC Bournemouth v Man Utd
Brighton v Southampton
Fulham v Crystal Palace
Liverpool v Aston Villa
Man City v Chelsea
Newcastle v Leicester
Nottingham Forest v Arsenal
Spurs v Brentford
West Ham v Leeds
Wolves v Everton
Sunday 28 May
16:00 Arsenal v Wolves
16:00 Aston Villa v Brighton
16:00 Brentford v Man City
16:00 Chelsea v Newcastle
16:00 Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest
16:00 Everton v AFC Bournemouth
16:00 Leeds v Spurs
16:00 Leicester v West Ham
16:00 Man Utd v Fulham
16:00 Southampton v Liverpool
The FA Cup always delivers shocks and plenty of Premier League clubs have tricky tests facing them in the last 16.
Only nine PL clubs remain, with fourth-tier Grimsby Town the lowest-ranked team left. There are two all-Premier League ties with Fulham hosting Leeds and West Ham heading to Manchester United.
FA Cup live: How to watch, scores, schedule, dates, how to watch
Dates: Fifth round – Tuesday, Feb. 28 – Wednesday, Mar. 1
Times: Below
Online: Live updates via NBCSports.com
How to watch: ESPN+
FA Cup fifth round draw
Tuesday, February 28
Stoke City vs Brighton & Hove Albion – 2:15pm ET
Leicester City vs Blackburn Rovers – 2:30pm ET
Fulham vs Leeds United – 2:45pm ET
Bristol City vs Manchester City – 3pm ET
Wednesday, March 1
Southampton vs Grimsby Town – 2:15pm ET
Burnley vs Fleetwood Town – 2:30pm ET
Manchester United vs West Ham United – 2:45pm ET
Sheffield United vs Tottenham Hotspur – 2:55pm ET
FA Cup fifth round predictions – By Joe Prince-Wright
Tuesday, February 28
Leicester City 2-1 Blackburn Rovers
Stoke City 1-3 Brighton & Hove Albion
Fulham 2-1 Leeds United
Bristol City 1-3 Manchester City
Wednesday, March 1
Southampton 3-1 Grimsby Town
Manchester United 2-1 West Ham United
Burnley 3-0 Fleetwood Town
Sheffield United 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
FA Cup fourth round replays — Schedule
Tuesday
Grimsby Town 3-0 Luton Town
Fleetwood Town 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday
Burnley 2-1 Ipswich Town
Sheffield United 3-1 Wrexham AFC
Saturday
Accrington Stanley 1-3 Leeds United
Walsall 0-1 Leicester City
Fulham 1-1 Sunderland
Bristol City 3-0 West Brom
Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Fleetwood Town
Blackburn Rovers 2-2 Birmingham City
Luton Town 2-2 Grimsby Town
Ipswich Town 0-0 Burnley
Southampton 2-1 Blackpool
Preston North End 0-3 Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester United 3-1 Reading
Swansea City 1-2 (AET) Bristol City
Forest Green Rovers 1-2 Birmingham City (original tie postponed due to waterlogged pitch)
Wigan 1-2 Luton
Wolves 0-1 Liverpool West Brom 4-0 Chesterfield
Preston North End 3-1 Huddersfield Town
Reading 2-0 Watford
Tottenham 1-0 Portsmouth
Gillingham 0-1 Leicester City
Forest Green Rovers vs Birmingham City — PPD
Crystal Palace 1-2 Southampton
Hull City 0-2 Fulham
Middlesbrough 1-5 Brighton
Fleetwood Town 2-1 QPR
Ipswich Town 4-1 Rotherham
Bournemouth 2-4 Burnley
Blackpool 4-1 Nottingham Forest
Chesterfield 3-3 West Brom
Millwall 0-2 Sheffield United
Boreham Wood 1-1 Accrington Stanley
Shrewsbury Town 1-2 Sunderland
Brentford 0-1 West Ham
Coventry City 3-4 Wrexham
Luton Town 1-1 Wigan
Grimsby Town 1-0 Burton Albion
Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 Newcastle
Liverpool 2-2 Wolves
Bristol City 1-1 Swansea City
Derby County 3-0 Barnsley
Cardiff City 2-2 Leeds
Stockport 1-2 Walsall
Hartlepool 0-3 Stoke City
Norwich 0-1 Blackpool
Aston Villa 1-2 Stevenage
Man City 4-0 Chelsea
Who’s looking like title contenders and/or favorites?
As we head into the second half of the 2022-23 season, Arsenal and Manchester City are looking head and shoulders above the rest though Newcastle is not going away and Manchester United has surged into contention.
The Gunners will have their hands full for the duration of their title challenge, as Erling Haaland continues to take the Premier League by storm with an almost impossible goal-scoring record.
Uneven Tottenham are hanging in the top four battle, while Liverpool is struggling to stay in the Champions League scrap. Chelsea has some work to do while surprising Fulham, Brentford and Brighton are hanging around on the periphery with fine campaigns.
Who are the candidates for relegation?
Everton, Bournemouth, and Southampton currently occupy the relegation places.
But Leicester, West Ham, Wolves, and Leeds all find themselves within a few points of the bottom three after a topsy-turvy season so far.
Below you will find the latest Premier League table.