Jurgen Klopp vs Jose Mourinho: History between the two and the importance of today's match for both the managers

Liverpool and Manchester United. These two teams deserve the title of being the elite in England and naturally when these two meet it is considered as the biggest match in the whole of England. Gary Neville once described this rivalry as - "blood feud that's Sicilian in intensity"; the feeling of immense hatred among two sets of fans which can hardly be found anywhere in the world.

Today, when these two teams play yet another riveting contest at Anfield, the two men who will matter the most, Jose Mourinho and Jurgen Klopp will resume their rivalry on the touchline. Two differing personalities with differing ideologies are fighting for one similar goal - to get their team to the top where it belongs. The two managers in focus are like chalk and cheese - one being a bespectacled football romantic whereas the other being a definition of the word pragmatic.

Klopp and Mourinho will today meet for the eighth time and this rivalry has seen its fair share of classic matches and usual controversies. The first time these two magnanimous personalities met was in 2012 where Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid were pitted in the same Champions League group. The tie in Germany ended in Klopp's favour with the counter-attacking display from Dortmund beating Madrid 2-1 at the Westfalenstadion.

The return leg at Madrid saw both teams share the spoils with Mesut Ozil's last-minute freekick helping his side to a 2-2 draw in an exciting game at the Bernabeu. Five months later, the two teams were pitted against one another in the semifinals and against all odds, Dortmund smashed Real Madrid 4-1 in the first leg at home, courtesy of a four-goal haul from Robert Lewandowski.

The second leg at the Bernabeu saw a lot of buildup from the media with this match being labelled as the one on which Mourinho's Madrid career was hanging on. He cheekily said that Jurgen Klopp was constantly talking about Real Madrid since the draw to which Jurgen replied, "Mourinho says I speak too much? That's what one of my teachers used to tell me. I don't care, I don't think about this."

Real Madrid won that game 2-0 but eventually bowed out of Europe with a 4-3 aggregate. That game remains the only occasion where the Special One got the better of the Normal One. Both the managers came to England next and have since played three times in the Premier League.

Jurgen Klopp put a nail in Mourinho's coffin during his second stint with Chelsea

October 2015 was a horrid time for Jose Mourinho with his Chelsea side turning against him in the last few matches. Jurgen Klopp was in his first month as a Liverpool manager and got the better of a hapless Chelsea side and won 3-1 at the Stamford Bridge. Mourinho was soon sacked but the rivalry resumed when Jose took the job at Old Trafford and thus, making himself a permanent disliked figure in the red half of Liverpool.

Last season saw a drab 0-0 draw between the two sides in October with Jose Mourinho shutting up shop early and waiting for a chance to counter-attack. Liverpool had the possession but could not derail Mourinho's double-decker. The returning leg at Old Trafford was a bit better with both teams at least playing for all three points. The game ended one goal apiece with James Milner and Zlatan Ibrahimovic being the scorers on the night.

So, the overall head to head record between Jose Mourinho and Jurgen Klopp goes in the way of the German with Klopp winning 3, drawing 3 and losing just one game against Jose Mourinho. Klopp's teams have scored 12 goals whereas Mourinho's teams have netted 8 goals so far in the seven meetings between the two sides.

But stats never tell the whole story in football and the man who needs a win the most from this fixture today is Jurgen Klopp. Yes, it is Manchester United's first real test of the season with Jose Mourinho out to put a marker in the league with a solid performance against Liverpool and hence proving United's title credentials but this match has much more on the line for Jurgen than just the three points.

Klopp's Reds have won just one out of their last seven matches and have so far conceded 12 goals in the Premier League. That is a worse record that Swansea City who are currently reeling in the relegation zone. A loss today and Liverpool can give up their hopes of a title challenge even before Halloween or Diwali.

Liverpool have dominated games but profligacy in front of the goal and some seriously shoddy defending have already put them seven points behind their great rivals. A win is what Liverpool desperately need at the moment but it is a tough task considering the marauding run United are on at the moment.

Manchester United have blazed so far in this season but have not faced a team of Liverpool's quality so far in the league. A win at Anfield will put the criticism of an easy start to bed whereas a loss will yet again bring a whole lot of questions to be asked for this United side.

Many have predicted that Mourinho will play the same defensive football which his side played the last time around at Anfield but the form his team is in and the great form that his players are currently displaying, it is hard to imagine why Mourinho would not go for the kill in this one, also considering the form that Liverpool are currently in (They say form goes out of the window in these sort of games but that's not the case in majority of the occasions).

Jose would be dying to get the better of the already under pressure Jurgen Klopp and that too at Anfield. Both these managers have acquired 88 points in the league since Mourinho joined United but Mourinho has spent nearly exact the double of what Klopp has (£305.7 million to Klopp's £148.9 million). United boss has strengthened his squad whereas Klopp has still a few areas to sort out which is a damning verdict on him and the Liverpool board.

Both these teams are fighting for different reasons at the moment with United needing a win to prove their worth as title contenders whereas Liverpool need a win to get back on track and just be considered as a side still in the title race. Two different viewpoints but one aim for both the sparring managers today - a win!