Henrikh Mkhitaryan: 'Jurgen Klopp stopped me from joining Liverpool'

Henrikh Mkhitaryan in action for Manchester United against Hull City on August 27, 2016
© SilverHub
Manchester United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan reveals how he nearly joined Liverpool several years ago, but opted to sign for Jurgen Klopp's Borussia Dortmund instead.

Manchester United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan has revealed that he nearly joined Liverpool when Brendan Rodgers was manager.

The 27-year-old, who lines up against the Merseyside club at Old Trafford on Sunday, was targeted by the Northern Irishman during his time at Shakhtar Donetsk.

However, he was persuaded to join Borussia Dortmund instead by then-manager Jurgen Klopp, who is now at the helm of the Reds.

"I spoke two or three times on the phone to Brendan Rodgers, he was saying he really wanted me and that I'd get to play with Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard," Mkhitaryan told the Mail on Sunday.

"Half of me thought I had to go there, the other half was not so confident, that the gap to the Premier League might be too big for a skinny player from the Ukrainian League.

"Two weeks later, Jurgen Klopp broke off his holiday on an island next to Denmark to come and see me in Dortmund. I knew he had a good reputation for working with younger players and, after we met, I felt more comfortable to sign for Dortmund. I think I made the right decision."

Mkhitaryan has made 16 appearances for United in all competitions since his summer move from Dortmund, scoring three goals and registering three assists.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp serves up some side-eye on September 24, 2016
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Chelsea21171345153052
2Tottenham HotspurSpurs21136243142945
3Liverpool21136249242545
4Arsenal21135348222644
5Manchester CityMan City21133541261542
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd21117332201240
7Everton219663223933
8West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom218582828029
9Stoke CityStoke217682733-627
10Burnley2182112331-826
11Bournemouth2174103037-725
12West Ham UnitedWest Ham2174102635-925
13Southampton216691926-724
14Watford2165102336-1323
15Leicester CityLeicester2156102434-1021
16Middlesbrough214891722-520
17Crystal Palace2144133040-1016
18Hull City2144132045-2516
19Sunderland2143142040-2015
20Swansea CitySwansea2143142349-2615