Rush: Top-four for United & Pool at best
Rush tips a top-four finish for United and Pool at best, Johnsen a great admirer of Klopp
It's a star-studded list littered with legendary names and they will all be strutting their stuff at the National Stadium tomorrow.
The likes of Ian Rush, Paul Parker, Steve McManaman and Lee Sharpe will be looking to turn back the clock and delight fans, when the Liverpool and Manchester United Masters teams lock horns in The Castlewood Group Battle of the Reds.
While the focus will be on the massive clash, the players took time off to conduct a football clinic for the students of Tanglin Trust School yesterday morning.
When the likes of Rush, Ronny Johnsen, Robbie Fowler and Jesper Blomqvist were not busy passing on the tricks of the trade, the stars of yesteryear spoke to the New Paper about the clubs that are closest to their hearts - Liverpool and Manchester United.
A lot has changed since Rush turned out for Liverpool for the final time in 1996.
For one, the Reds, who then had eight more league titles to their name than their closest challengers, are no longer the most successful club in English football.
Since Rush played the last of his 660 games for Liverpool, scoring 346 goals along the way, they have had co-managers, a wily Spanish tactician, the current England boss and even the return of the legendary Kenny Dalglish at the helm.
Yet they are still stuck at 18 league titles, the last of which came in 1990.
There is, however, renewed optimism at Anfield since the arrival of Juergen Klopp, and Rush is heartened by what he saw so far.
While the Welshman believes the rivalry between Liverpool and United will continue to dominate English football, he is tipping at best a top-four finish for the two arch-rivals.
"It's difficult to tell (who have the upper hand) really," Rush told The New Paper yesterday.
HUGE COMPETITION
"It's really two new managers, although (United manager Louis) van Gaal's been there a little bit longer, so it'll be interesting to see what happens when they next meet (on Jan 16, 2016).
"These days, there's huge competition from (Manchester) City, and you've also got Tottenham and Arsenal, so it's always going to be difficult (to win the title). But both teams will be looking to try and finish inside the top four."
While Klopp has been heralded as Liverpool's saviour, van Gaal has come under much criticism for his cautious approach that many believe is unbecoming of a United side.
Former Red Devils centre back Johnsen, who played 150 games in six years at Old Trafford, refused to be overly critical of the Dutch tactician, although he admitted to being a fan of Klopp's managerial style.
The Norwegian said: "United have been getting a little bit of stick for how they play, but they're still winning games.
"They don't concede many goals and van Gaal has a plan to make sure the team are solid first, then he's going to develop from there.
"What Klopp did at Borussia Dortmund was very good and I like his style of football.
"Now that he's the new Liverpool manager, they will just get better."
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