Ferguson admitting Klopp "worry" is why blunt Liverpool claim is serious

There are few managers Sir Alex Ferguson would be genuinely "worried" about turning Liverpool into a serious force.

But Jurgen Klopp is one such man.

In fact, Ferguson didn't just once reveal he was worried about what Klopp's appointment could mean for Manchester United, he did so twice.

The Scot did so first when Liverpool announced Klopp as their new boss.

Ferguson said: "Well it's a good appointment. I admire him.

"I know Jurgen pretty well through our meetings at [FIFA] coaches' classes in Geneva.

"He's a strong personality, very strong, very stubborn, determined and his performances, and his career at Dortmund, was a stellar rise to the top and I think he'll do very well.

"I don't like saying that, being Liverpool, because I'm worried about it but, no, he'll do well."

And then after the German had made a bright start at Anfield.

"He has done a really good job and revived Liverpool's enthusiasm," the former United boss told Kicker magazine. "It can happen that big clubs lose it.

"For two decades, Liverpool changed managers without building their own identity."

"You can now well and truly sense that you have to count them in this year. You can see Klopp's dedication on the sideline, I'm convinced his work in training is similar. He's a strong personality. That's absolutely vital at a big club."

Klopp went on to win the Champions League in 2019 and then the Premier League in 2020.

This season the Reds were favourites to retain their crown, but things haven't exactly gone to plan in their first title defence in 30 years.

Liverpool have been hit exceptionally hard with injuries this season, and are without a number of first-team defenders, including Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip.

Klopp has been forced to get creative, playing a staggering 16 different centre-back pairings this season, with midfielders chipping in to fill the gaps.

Against Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday evening, Klopp started captain Jordan Henderson and Fabinho at the back.

And while the duo didn't do much wrong in the 4-1 defeat, Liverpool certainly would have benefited having them pulling the strings further up the field.

Liverpool have been heavily criticised following their defeat by Man City, which saw Pep Guardiola's side go 10 points clear of them at the top of the table.

Jamie Carragher was among those who suggested Klopp has some "real questions" to answer at Liverpool as "things aren't going to plan" under him at the moment.

Klopp was slightly tetchy in his post-match interviews, in which he refused to throw any player under the bus – despite Alisson's shocking display – and vowed there'll be a response.

On Monday he doubled down on this stance with a rather blunt statement.

"If you didn't see a really good football team that will win football games again, I don't know exactly. That really hurts tonight, but we will go again," said Klopp.

"If you are only really united when we are winning, there is something wrong with you.

"We will go again. This is a tough moment in a tough season – I saw a lot of good things tonight and we have to go again and again and again.

"We have a full training week and that will really help as well."

His powerful words show a man who, as Ferguson described, has a "strong personality, very strong, very stubborn," and who is "determined".

It's quite clear that despite the deficit in points, this Liverpool side aren't dead and buried.

Man United weren't always the world's best team under Ferguson, but the Scot had a remarkable knack of bouncing back at the right time.

If Klopp can take a leaf from the Scot's book then Manchester United and co. still have plenty to "worry" about while the German is around.

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