David Wagner expects Huddersfield Town to face serious test against Liverpool

But, tonight, David Wagner insists his only priority will be Huddersfield Town passing “a very serious test” against Klopp’s Liverpool at a sold-out John Smith’s Stadium.

The Terriers host the Premier League club in an eagerly-awaited friendly that will act as a good gauge as to how successful Wagner’s extensive summer recruitment has been. It will also pit against each other the very best of friends.

“It was a pre-season game in 1991 when I first met him,” said Wagner yesterday when asked about his countryman Klopp.

“I switched to Mainz (from Eintracht Frankfurt) and he had been there for one season. This was the first time we had come in contact in the dressing room.

“That is 25 years ago and he is a good guy. I like him, he is my friend. I was best man at his wedding. We are brothers in the mind. We have the same humour, we laugh about the same jokes.

“So, we are able to enjoy life without being too serious. Everything you can say about a friendship, I can say the same about us.

“He is one of the best managers in the world but, to me, he is just my friend. His name is Jurgen Klopp but no one knew 25 years ago he would be at Liverpool and me at Huddersfield. But here we are, we meet again.”

When Klopp arrived at Anfield last autumn from Borussia Dortmund, Wagner – then in charge of the German club’s reserve team – was expected to follow suit.

However, it was not Merseyside but West Yorkshire where Wagner eventually headed – something that Klopp admits came as a surprise.

“In this business, with your best friends you have to keep a few secrets,” said the Reds’ manager ahead of tonight’s reunion.

“He didn’t know I went to the USA to speak with the (Liverpool) owners and I actually had no idea that he was in talks with another English club.

“When I came back from the USA, I opened the door and I saw his car sitting in front of my house. I thought, ‘What’s he doing here?’ When I came in my wife said, ‘Let him tell first.’

“I said, ‘You first’. He said he had spoken to a Championship club in England. I said ‘Interesting, which club?’ He said Huddersfield and I thought, ‘Okay, close to Liverpool’.

“I said I had come back from talks with Liverpool. It was a completely strange situation for both of us. He is a really good friend but, more importantly for Huddersfield, he is a brilliant manager.”

Since the two Germans moved to England, they have kept in close contact. Wagner has been to watch Liverpool at Anfield three times and stayed overnight after one of those games at Klopp’s house. The pair also keep in touch regularly by phone.

“We speak often in the week about his life, my life; his club, my club; his future, my future; his present, my present,” added Huddersfield’s head coach.

Those conversations will, no doubt, have played a part in tonight’s game – which is expected to beat the previous best Town attendance for a friendly of 20,042, set in 1954 against South American side Independiente at the old Leeds Road – being organised along with the recent season-long loan switch of goalkeeper Danny Ward to the Championship club.

As close as Wagner and Klopp are, however, the Terriers’ head coach insists that his only priority for 90 minutes tonight will be how his new-look side perform.

“I can totally split off our friendship and the football,” said the 44-year-old. “This is Liverpool, a big traditional English club, and that is exciting enough.

“The personal relationship is interesting before the game and after the game he (Klopp) will hopefully visit me in my manager’s office.

“But, during the game, this is Huddersfield Town against Liverpool in front of a sold-out John Smith’s Stadium.

“It is not the highest pressure situation because of the result. But it is a very serious test for us and we have to make sure it is not the nicest night for Liverpool. If we do that, we will show we are along the right path.”

Mark Hudson will feature tonight for Town after recovering from injury, but Nahki Wells will not be risked despite returning to training. Kasey Palmer is also missing along with fellow newcomer Ivan Paurevic.

Klopp, meanwhile, is expected to field a full-strength side before heading off to the USA for a four-game tour.

“We texted each other in the last few days,” said Wagner when asked if he knew what starting XI his friend had in mind at the John Smith’s.” I didn’t ask him (about the team), but I am expecting the same side that he had in the last friendlies.

“They go to America right after the game for a training camp. So, it will be their strongest team he can have. I know him very well and he will want to win this game, for sure. That is normal.

“It is a game we look forward to. They are a real, traditional English football club. Liverpool have some of the best players you can see and it is great to play them.

“Hopefully, he (Klopp) will ask for a rematch afterwards.”