Erik Ten Hag enticed by chance to sample Anfield hostilities

Erik ten Hag is looking forward to experiencing the hostile atmosphere at Anfield as he takes Manchester United to Liverpool for the first time.

After winning his first trophy as Red Devils boss with last weekend's Carabao Cup triumph, defeating Barcelona in Europe and securing a spot in the FA Cup quarter-finals, Ten Hag turns his attention back to the Premier League.

Victory in Sunday's clash would keep United in position to take advantage of any Arsenal or Manchester City slip-ups, while defeat would bolster Liverpool's hopes of a late push for the top four.

"I'm looking forward to it, the ambience, the atmosphere," said Ten Hag. "It will be great, it will be hostile against us, but we like that.

"I know these players, my squad, my team, will be prepared to go there and fight and to go there with confidence. We know it's going to be difficult, we know we will have to suffer and we will have to sacrifice to get a good result.

"I think our team, our mentality in general is very good. I think we also have many leaders who set the mentality, who set the standards, who control the standards, who correct if necessary. I think we are happy with this process but it can always be better. That has to be the approach."

The tables have turned from recent seasons, with United the team looking virtually certain of Champions League football and Liverpool fighting for the scraps.

Jurgen Klopp's team have belatedly found some form in the league, winning three of their last four matches to close to within 10 points of United and six of fourth-placed Tottenham.

Ten Hag was reluctant to pronounce a definitive change to the league hierarchy, saying: "We are still in the season now. It's always a pattern, never does it always go so consistently.

"I