Liverpool FC's Cody Gakpo is proving Manchester United transfer concern correct

It might be one of the fiercest rivalries in world football, but there will likely be a lot of warm embraces when Manchester United travel to face Liverpool later today.

While the match is set to be fiercely competitive between two sides desperate to win, before and after there will be a chance for close friends to catch up and put their club rivalry aside.

In particular, there will be a real Dutch feel to the proceedings, as United manager Erik ten Hag looks to continue his revolution by completing a league double.

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Ten Hag showed a favour to players he knew from his Eredivisie background when he arrived at the club last summer, with Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez and Antony all signing, while he also tried to get his former Ajax ace Frenkie de Jong as well.

It was a similar approach in January too, with Dutch international Wout Weghorst arriving on loan to much surprise given his previous struggles in English football.

That core of players will be reunited with international teammates Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo later today, adding an interesting level of intimacy to the match given how well they know one another.

It will be particularly interesting to see how Gakpo gets on, considering how close he has come to joining United during both previous transfer windows under Ten Hag.

The 23-year-old even admitted that he thought he was going to join United back in the summer transfer window before sealing a £37million move to Anfield on Boxing Day.

Gakpo, who shares the same agent as Ten Hag, was keen on the prospect of moving to Old Trafford, but United instead managed to sign top target Antony instead.

"It was difficult this