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Jurgen Klopp insists there was never any prospect of him accepting the opportunity to manage Manchester United.

The Liverpool boss was sounded out by Alex Ferguson prior to the long-serving Scot’s retirement in 2013. Klopp was on United’s wish-list as they searched for Ferguson’s successor.

However, Klopp informed Ferguson that he would be staying loyal to Borussia Dortmund and ended up penning a new deal.

Nearly three years on, Klopp has no regrets as he prepares for Sunday’s showdown between English football’s two genuine heavyweights at Anfield. It will be his first ever clash with United.

Asked about his discussions with Ferguson, Klopp said: “Yeah, we spoke. It was a big honour, the whole talk, to be honest.

“There was a time but I could not leave Dortmund. That is it. You are in April and you are in the middle of the planning for next season.

“You have this player and this player and this player who is coming but then you are not there anymore. That doesn’t work. Not in my life.

“I did not hear about a real offer but, if there was, I could not have done it. I first had to finish the job with Dortmund and then think about other things. Maybe that is not smart but that is my way.”

Ferguson’s admiration for Klopp is well known. He recently admitted he was “worried” about what Liverpool would go on to achieve with the charismatic German at the helm.

United’s loss has been Liverpool’s gain. The esteem in which Klopp is held among Liverpool supporters stands in stark contrast to the current plight of United manager Louis van Gaal.

The experienced Dutchman, who took over from David Moyes in May 2014, finds himself under huge pressure after just one win in United’s last eight league matches.

Managers have all this money but also all this pressure

Klopp empathises with Van Gaal’s current plight but knows there is no room for sentiment when these arch rivals meet. Liverpool must pile on the misery for Van Gaal if they are going to kick-start their push for Champions League qualification.

“It has an affect on your whole life but, in my case, not on how I handle my team or anything like this,” he said.

“It is always the case if things don’t run the way you want – you have to think about whether to change things or not to change.

“I know the whole world is watching football managers and thinking they are really well paid so no-one cares about a manager’s feelings.

“I know Louis is not too happy with the media at the moment but I think in life it is important sometimes to switch and think about how it would be on the other side.

“Okay, fine, you would have all this money but also all this pressure so it is not nice. If you want to change things in football it is not okay that you think ‘bad, bad, bad, go’. If that was the solution I think Man United would have done it.

“It is not our problem, but it is a manager’s problem. It’s like when I came here. First it’s ‘yeh!’ (thumbs up) then it’s ‘erm’ (thumbs to the side) then it might be ‘ooh’ (thumbs down).

“Then I am alone on the side and we might have the same situation here but you will feel completely different. I will not have changed as a human being but you are not interested in this. I am only interested in what my friends and family think about me. It’s not like the sun is shining every day as a football manager.

Why should I think much about United?

“United are a club with big possibilities, big potential. But why should I think much about Man United? I have enough to do here.

“We want to win against them. If they have a problem in this moment, maybe if I know a few of their players, it is easier. But, to be honest, our target is to win. Not to solve their problem.”

It will be first time Klopp has gone head to head with Van Gaal since February 2011. Back then, Klopp’s Dortmund pulled off a stunning 3-1 win over Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena en route to clinching the Bundesliga crown.

It was Dortmund’s first away win over Bayern for 20 years and a week later Van Gaal was informed that he would be replaced as coach.

“Yes, I remember that game,” Klopp said.

“Lucas Barrios, Nuri Sahin and Mats Hummels scored. We had a good team, we were in a good moment with Dortmund and we scored brilliant goals that day.

“It was always difficult for us to play against Bayern because of their style of play but we had not the worst idea in the world to play against Robben and Ribery.

“We scored really good goals, including one from a set-play. I would like a goal from a set-play here sometime! We won this game and we won the championship but it was long ago.”

What has always been viewed as the biggest fixture in English football is now a battle between sixth and ninth. Both Liverpool and United find themselves on the fringes of the race for the top four.

However, Klopp insists that the stakes at Anfield on Sunday remain as high as ever.

With this game, the intensity starts before

“Yes, it is not the biggest in terms of the table. If you went on the table it would be Arsenal v Leicester,” he said.

“But we cannot and should not ignore history. Historically, it is a really big clash and we have to accept that we are protagonists.

“Should I say to the players: ‘oh, come on, it’s only sixth v ninth so stay cool?’ No, it is a big game for us and we want to win. I can’t change where we are in the table.

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“I think we are all on the way and we are trying to improve. We are trying to make big steps but we have to respect that sometimes it doesn’t work like that.

“That doesn’t change our target – we want to improve, we want to get better and we want to be higher in the table. And we want three points against a strong squad like Manchester United.

“It is not going to be easy but it is possible. Hopefully we can celebrate after the game.

"I love football because of the intensity of the game and, with this game, the intensity starts before so that’s good.”