Liverpool face Manchester United in Saturday's lunchtime kickoff this week and there is no doubt the biggest game in English football is back.

While both sides have seen better days in recent years, they still hold reputations as two of the most successful, storied sides in English football.

After United's electric and unbeaten start to the season, it seems as if Jose Mourinho has got the Red Devils back on the right path.

The same cannot exactly be said for Liverpool, even if Jurgen Klopp has got them back on the right path by qualifying for the Champions League.

However, Klopp's former boss at Mainz, Eckhard Krautzun, claimed this week that in actual fact, the German had always dreamed of managing Man United.

Klopp responded to those claims in his pre-match press conference on Friday.

"I heard about an interview with my former manager," he said. "I really like Eckhard Krautzun but when I think too far in the past I am not 100 per cent sure what is right or wrong but it is still funny. I am sure he thinks it was like this.

"How could I, as a very average player at Mainz, say to my manager, 'By the way, if I become a manager I would love to manage Manchester United'.

"Maybe people think I am a little bit crazy but I am not that crazy. I never thought about something like this.

"He (Eckhard) was a big admirer, and is still, of Sir Alex Ferguson. In our first meeting he was wearing a jumper of Manchester United when he came in as a new coach. Maybe he forgot.

"There are a few funny stories, unfortunately a few things are not exact but still funny. I had fun when I read it but not all of it is exactly like this."

Liverpool entertains Man United at Anfield without Sadio Mane after the Senegalese winger suffered a hamstring injury on international duty.

Klopp is likely to give Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain the chance he has been waiting for since his £35 million move from Arsenal, but the Reds have won just once in their last seven outings since the England international joined.