Transition, takeovers and how Manchester United are pulling ahead of Liverpool

Manchester United can complete a first league double over Liverpool since the 2015/16 campaign with a win at Anfield on Sunday.

The Red Devils have been in the shadow of their Merseyside rivals almost ever since Jurgen Klopp's arrival at Liverpool in 2015, winning just two of their 15 meetings up until their victory at Old Trafford in August. Klopp has overseen the construction of arguably the best Liverpool team in 30 years during his time at the club.

The Reds won seven trophies across a three-year period between 2019 and 2022, including a first Premier League crown. At the end of last season the gap between the pair seemed sizeable.

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Liverpool were just one point and a Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid away from winning a quadruple, while United were down in sixth after registering their worst ever Premier League points tally. Klopps's side also defeated United by a combined aggregate score of 9-0 across their two league meetings.

But an inspired managerial appointment in Erik ten Hag and several high-quality signings has elevated United. Five new arrivals came through the Old Trafford door in the summer, all of who have improved the squad, with Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez particular stand-outs.

Liverpool, meanwhile, replaced Sadio Mane with the promising, yet raw, Darwin Nunez and made the crucial error of not strengthening when on top. That has proved costly and Klopp now has an ageing squad at his disposal that will take significant investment to rebuild.

Established midfielders Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and James Milner are ageing players with little re-sale value and the lack of investment has prompted Liverpool fans