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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers

'The competition in this country is far greater' - The Brodge on LVG's influence at United so far

Louis van Gaal has grasped the problems of Premier League management ahead of Manchester United’s trip to Liverpool, says Brendan Rodgers.

BRENDAN RODGERS BELIEVES Louis van Gaal’s Premier League adaptation is coming on well as he prepares to welcome the Dutchman’s Manchester United side to Liverpool on Sunday.

United endured a stuttering start to life under Van Gaal, failing to win four of the Dutchman’s first five games in charge.

However, a run of just two defeats in 19 Premier League games has catapulted the 20-time champions firmly into the top-four race – they sit fourth, two points ahead of fifth-placed Liverpool ahead of their trip to Anfield.

And Rodgers believes Van Gaal has what it takes to enter the pantheon of United greats.

“Even he would say that coming into the Premier League is different to where he’s worked before,” the Liverpool boss said of his Old Trafford counterpart. “The competition in this country is far greater.

“He’s shown over his career that he’s a top-class manager. He’ll have seen coming into this country for the first time, the challenges of football here.

“This is the most competitive league in the world. If you’ve spent your career in the Premier League, it’s different to the other leagues.

“But I don’t think you can argue about his credentials. He’s put philosophies in place at Ajax, Barcelona and AZ. If he ever leaves United, he’ll still have been one of the great managers.

“Manchester United will look to continue to stay in that top four. For us, the challenge is to get above them and into that top four.”

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    Mute samstheman
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    Apr 2nd 2019, 7:55 AM

    I hope he’s right, a win like Sunday’s can be a massive boost to any team. It’s going to be a great few weeks of a run in

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    Mute Nollaig Elliot
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    Apr 2nd 2019, 10:15 AM

    @samstheman:

    Many a title was won by winning ugly, particularly at this end of the season. The Manchester Derby is the big one in the race. Can’t see Chelsea causing Liverpool any dramas at Anfield and City will roll Spurs at home too.

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    Mute Cormac Flanagan
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    Apr 2nd 2019, 10:41 AM

    @Nollaig Elliot: think Cardiff away could be a big game for pool. They’ll play for a point so up to pool to break down a 10 man defence.

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    Mute samstheman
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    Apr 2nd 2019, 10:48 AM

    @Nollaig Elliot: I’m not expecting it to be one bit pretty to be honest

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    Mute Nollaig Elliot
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    Apr 2nd 2019, 11:21 AM

    @Cormac Flanagan:

    Maybe so, but don’t Cardiff need to be going for games? If so, that will suit Liverpool. Draws will be no good for them now.

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    Mute Nollaig Elliot
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    Apr 2nd 2019, 11:22 AM

    @samstheman:

    Haha, I bet you’re not.

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    Mute Fr Romeo sensini.
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    Apr 2nd 2019, 12:13 PM

    @Cormac Flanagan: Cardiff will be well gone by then.

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    Mute John
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    Apr 2nd 2019, 9:06 AM

    Man City are playing twice a week every game for the rest of the season. There bound to drop pts at least once, probably twice

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    Mute Mark Collins
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    Apr 2nd 2019, 8:23 AM

    Top maths

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    Mute David Weston
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    Apr 2nd 2019, 8:43 AM

    @Mark Collins: it’s not really , does he not realise that they need City to drop points also

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    Mute Peter Govan
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    Apr 2nd 2019, 9:23 AM

    @David Weston: pretty sure he does , anyone with half a brain can read between the lines

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    Mute David Weston
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    Apr 2nd 2019, 12:49 PM

    @Peter Govan: yes of course he does ..

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    Mute Mark Keaty
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    Apr 2nd 2019, 8:43 AM

    I think they willbut City will also.

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    Mute Matthew Gaynor
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    Apr 2nd 2019, 10:44 AM

    If Liverpool and City both win every game left in the PL (not entirely unrealistic), Liverpool would come second with 97 points, which for me, as a Liverpool fan, would be absolutely sickening, but yet so typical

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