"It is English football's Clasico, Klassiker, Classique. The north-west classic, if you will. Use flat vowels. The TV companies are revving up the performance poets, fizzing pints of lager to denote working-class roots are being artfully placed on unpolished pub tables, regional accents exaggerated as the hype machine revs up. The latest renewal of Liverpool v Manchester United finds the historic rivals in less than classic form."
"Liverpool fans find themselves scrolling longingly through Jurgen Klopp's InstaChat account, pawing at pics of their former manager enjoying games of padel with Gabriela Sabatini. They might be inconsolable by the time Klopp's social media afterlife continues with his appearance on LinkedIn deity Steve Bartlett's Diary of a CEO podcast, dropping later this month. The Mersey will overflow with salty tears as the German shares tales of high performance, disruption, big data, synergy and metrics while laughing like a hyena watching You've Been Framed."
Manchester United have been in poor form since 2013 while Liverpool enjoyed a sustained rise until a recent run of three consecutive defeats. Liverpool now occupy a precarious position in the title race, one point behind Arsenal, and face reputational scrutiny around their manager. Key goalkeeper Alisson is sidelined by a hamstring issue, prompting Giorgi Mamardashvili to step into goal after a mixed international showing that included a penalty save and a costly error. Media build-up around the Liverpool–United fixture leans on exaggerated working-class imagery and regional accents, and fans display nostalgia for Jurgen Klopp.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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