Ex-Manchester United coach claims only one Liverpool FC player would improve 1999 treble side

Former Manchester United assistant manager Steve McClaren believes only one of Liverpool's current team would get into the 1999 treble winning side.

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk is the only player from Jurgen Klopp's team that would get into Manchester United's treble winning side of 1999 according to former assistant manager Steve McClaren.

The ex-England boss helped Sir Alex Ferguson guide the Reds to the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League that season, United remain the only side to complete such a feat in English football.

Liverpool are currently top of the table in the Premier League, clear of Manchester City by 22 points, and look set to end their 30-year wait for a domestic league title.

Given their dominance over the last two years under Klopp, the current Merseyside club have been compared to the iconic United side of 1999.

McClaren believes only Van Dijk would be able to walk into that United team ahead of Ronny Johnsen or Wes Brown.

"Virgil van Dijk next to Jaap Stam, that would be invincible," he told Sky Sports.

"Nobody would get past them.

"But for me, seriously, only Van Dijk would get into that team.

"When you look at that Manchester United team, that is leadership throughout the whole team, and leadership was the key.

"Liverpool are developing that now."

Manchester United fans reacted to McClaren's claim on Reddit and most agreed with their former assistant.

Some argued that Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold could compete with Gary Neville for a berth at right-back but many fans pointed out that the England international would be wasted behind David Beckham.

Many supporters pointed out that not even Van Dijk could usurp Nemanja Vidic or Rio Ferdinand from United's 2007 title winning team.