Louis van Gaal has warned his Manchester United players they must keep their cool when they face rivals Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
The Red Devils sit sixth in the Premier League table – three points ahead of Jurgen Klopp’s side in ninth.
Van Gaal has won all four matches in charge of United against Liverpool and has warned his players not to let their emotions get the better of them on Sunday.
“I know that it is an important game for the fans, I have seen the reaction when we beat them so I know that,” said the Dutchman.
“You can see it in the faces of the players. Last season for example, [Steven] Gerrard is on and sent off within 30 seconds.
“We need to be aggressive, but also under control in these kind of matches.
“But that is always difficult, because the passion to play these kind of games is always high.”
Michael Carrick joins Bastian Schweinsteiger and Phil Jones on the sidelines, meanwhile Adnan Januzaj could be on the bench having proved his fitness to the United manager in training.
It was announced on Thursday that Real Madrid have been handed a transfer ban for the next two transfer windows igniting fresh speculation that a bid for David De Gea this month could be imminent.
The goalkeeper signed a new four-year contract with United after his deadline day move to the La Liga giants broke down last September and Van Gaal says the Spain international will remain at Old Trafford.
“I don’t think that kind of thing plays in the mind of David De Gea and I have never thought about it,” he said.
“That was in the period before the transfer period, but now I am seeing a David De Gea who is enjoying being here at Manchester United and playing good games.”
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