Just imagine if Manchester United’s reputed ‘Disneyland’ pitch had worked on Jurgen Klopp.

Would even the German genius have managed to resolve the deep-rooted problems at Old Trafford that have left them so far in Liverpool’s wake that it’s not even funny?

Would Klopp be on the brink of creating history in Manchester, rather than on Merseyside?

Or would he just be another Champions League-winning manager to fall victim to the curse of the once Theatre of Dreams?

The fear among United supporters after another chastening day in the club’s recent history, is that no-one could succeed within a culture that seems destined to fail.

Put it another way. Would Liverpool be champions of Europe, the world and on the verge of a record-breaking Premier League title if the decision-makers at United were calling the shots at Anfield?

For instance, what if Klopp had seen his board baulk at the valuations of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk or Alisson in the manner in which United are haggling over the price of Bruno Fernandes?

Imagine, for a second, that his overhaul of the squad he inherited from Brendan Rodgers was stalled by the decision to protect assets like Christian Benteke, Jose Enrique and Joe Allen.

Imagine if he’d lost his two most experienced strikers and replaced them with none.

Or entered the season with a threadbare midfield, saw his two best players in that department struck down by long-term injury - and didn’t have a new signing ready and waiting to go the minute the transfer window opened.

And – just to rub salt in the wounds – imagine if he watched his top January target hit a debut hat-trick just three days after his own leading scorer was ruled out for up to three months with injury.

Welcome to the world of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.​ Klopp is a magician – he’s not a miracle worker.

It feels futile to even draw comparisons between United and Liverpool on the pitch when the gulf in class is beyond debate.

Rather a light should be shone on the processes that have led to a swing of 58 points and counting in Liverpool’s favour since Sir Alex Ferguson retired six and half years ago.

The title is on its way to Anfield. The Kop is back on its perch – and it’s hard to have any faith in United’s ability to shift the balance of power.

Huge question marks hang over Solskjaer and whether he has the tools to compete with Klopp and Pep Guardiola – even in a fair fight. But such is the managed decline of United that it is seriously doubtful whether the candidate exists who can restore their fortunes in spite of the systemic failings that made mugs of such managerial luminaries as Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho.

What chance, say, would Mauricio Pochettino have if he became the latest ‘saviour’ to be parachuted in?

It is a task that neither Klopp nor Guardiola were prepared to take up.

In the Klopp biography, ‘Bring the Noise,’ it’s claimed Ed Woodward tried to woo him with the pitch that Old Trafford was “like an adult version of Disneyland.”

In Pictures | Manchester United January transfer targets 2020 10 show all In Pictures | Manchester United January transfer targets 2020 1/10 Man Utd transfer targets Old Trafford officials have put together a shortlist for the January 2020 transfer window - here's who makes the cut... AFP via Getty Images 2/10 Donny van de Beek Club: Ajax



Position: Midfielder



Age: 22



AFP via Getty Images 3/10 Bruno Fernandes Club: Sporting Lisbon



Position: Midfielder



Age: 25



AFP/Getty Images 4/10 Emre Can Club: Juventus



Position: Midfielder



Age: 25



REUTERS 5/10 Hakim Ziyech Club: Ajax



Position: Attacking midfielder



Age: 26



Getty Images 6/10 James Maddison Club: Leicester City



Position: Playmaker



Age: 22



REUTERS 7/10 Sean Longstaff Club: Newcastle



Position: Midfielder



Age: 22



Getty Images 8/10 Jadon Sancho Club: Borussia Dortmund



Position: Winger



Age: 19



Bongarts/Getty Images 9/10 Moussa Dembele Club: Lyon



Position: Striker



Age: 22



AFP via Getty Images 10/10 Jude Bellingham Club: Birmingham City



Position: Midfielder



Age: 16



Getty Images 1/10 Man Utd transfer targets Old Trafford officials have put together a shortlist for the January 2020 transfer window - here's who makes the cut... AFP via Getty Images 2/10 Donny van de Beek Club: Ajax



Position: Midfielder



Age: 22



AFP via Getty Images 3/10 Bruno Fernandes Club: Sporting Lisbon



Position: Midfielder



Age: 25



AFP/Getty Images 4/10 Emre Can Club: Juventus



Position: Midfielder



Age: 25



REUTERS 5/10 Hakim Ziyech Club: Ajax



Position: Attacking midfielder



Age: 26



Getty Images 6/10 James Maddison Club: Leicester City



Position: Playmaker



Age: 22



REUTERS 7/10 Sean Longstaff Club: Newcastle



Position: Midfielder



Age: 22



Getty Images 8/10 Jadon Sancho Club: Borussia Dortmund



Position: Winger



Age: 19



Bongarts/Getty Images 9/10 Moussa Dembele Club: Lyon



Position: Striker



Age: 22



AFP via Getty Images 10/10 Jude Bellingham Club: Birmingham City



Position: Midfielder



Age: 16



Getty Images

It’s become more like a house of horrors – a managerial graveyard.

Guardiola was far more seduced by the project at Manchester City – a club so determined to create sustained success that they began building a squad to suit him even before he decided to swap Bayern Munich for the Etihad.

A classic case of ‘build it and he will come.’​ Klopp and Guardiola were lured by the visions laid out in front of them. They saw clubs that were prepared to give them a platform for success – a platform to build a legacy.

Compare that with United as they enter a new decade.

Mourinho was big enough to take up the challenge of turning this juggernaut around.

He delivered two trophies and their highest finish post-Ferguson and was rewarded by having the rug pulled from under him in a defining transfer window.

Klopp wanted Van Dijk. Liverpool made the Dutchman the most expensive defender in history.

Mourinho wanted Harry Maguire to build on United’s second-placed finish in 2018. United waited a year and gave him to his successor.

Now Solskjaer is feeling the pinch. His squad is so under-strength in the absence of Paul Pogba, Scott McTominay and now Marcus Rashford that a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool is almost encouraging.

Two thirds of the way through the January window, he is still to bring in any reinforcements and has been forced to go down the route of emergency loans to try to fill the void of arguably United’s most exciting talent since Cristiano Ronaldo.

Wanted: Left-sided, goal-machine, with electric pace, able to hit the ground running. On a short-term lease only.

He’s sure to be inundated with offers from all those clubs across Europe just desperate to offload pesky goal-scoring wingers, who can be so problematic.

It would be funny if it wasn’t so serious The issues at United are no laughing matter. And even Klopp’s trademark grin would be put to the test if he was in Solskjaer’s shoes.