Man United in maelstrom as Liverpool head to Old Trafford
Frenzied speak of billionaires wanting — or, within the case of Elon Musk, not wanting — to purchase Manchester United has topped the sports activities agenda in Britain this week.
A future with out the Glazer household as homeowners? Yes please, many more and more disheartened United followers would say after practically a decade of underperformance by one of many world’s most storied sports activities groups.
And nevertheless unlikely that speedy prospect is — in any case, the membership will not be on the market regardless of Jim Ratcliffe, certainly one of Britain’s richest individuals, expressing an curiosity this week — it’s one thing a lot of these supporters will likely be calling for throughout an anti-Glazer march deliberate by a followers’ group forward of United’s sport in opposition to Liverpool at Old Trafford on Monday.
🎥 Training highlights from yesterday’s session.#MUNLIV 🔜#MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 20, 2022
The final time such a protest happened earlier than a house match in opposition to Liverpool, in May final 12 months, hundreds stuffed the concourse outdoors Old Trafford, flares have been set off, the stadium was stormed and certainly one of world soccer’s largest fixtures was referred to as off.
For some, a repeat situation wouldn’t be unwelcome.
There can’t be many United followers trying ahead to the prospect of Liverpool, the group’s fiercest rival, coming to Old Trafford given what has transpired within the opening two rounds of the season.
In truth, it’s sufficient to fill them with dread.
Two video games. Two losses. Six targets conceded. Only one objective scored, and even that was an own-goal. Oh, and to prime it off, United is in final place.
If the 2-1 opening-weekend loss at residence to Brighton was dangerous, the following 4-0 thrashing by Brentford on Saturday was extensively deemed to be one of many worst ends in United’s latest historical past.
Up subsequent, a visit to Old Trafford 🏟 #MUNLIV pic.twitter.com/srQTSONqGr
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 17, 2022
Hence, the inevitable hysteria. Is Erik ten Hag, who joined from Ajax within the offseason, the unsuitable appointment as supervisor? Is Lisandro Martinez the unsuitable signing at heart again? Why hasn’t United signed a defensive midfielder but? Is this the tip for Cristiano Ronaldo at United?
Over the previous week, a slew of gamers in a variety of completely different positions have been linked with United within the last days of the switch window, like American winger Christian Pulisic from Chelsea.
Ronaldo has teased on Instagram about his future, saying the media has been “telling lies” and, somewhat cryptically, that “they know the truth when they interview in a couple weeks.”
Then there was the drama of Musk tweeting he was shopping for United earlier than saying a number of hours later that it was a joke, and Ratcliffe rising as a possible purchaser if the membership that almost all shareholder of chemical group Ineos has supported since childhood was put up on the market.
It’s hardly ever quiet round United, whether or not the group is doing properly or badly.
It was a five-star efficiency final day trip at Old Trafford… together with a record-breaking @MoSalah hat-trick ⚽⚽⚽ #MUNLIV pic.twitter.com/YoPQESgHmB
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 21, 2022
And think about if United is crushed once more on Monday, to open a season with three straight defeats for the primary time within the Premier League period (from 1992). How enormous would the fourth sport — in opposition to Southampton away — be for Ten Hag then?
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk isn’t taking something as a right, although, even when his group beat United 5-0 and 4-0 final season.
“They are a good team, in my opinion,” Van Dijk stated. “They have good gamers all around the pitch.
“Obviously they’re not in the best situation, confidence-wise, probably, but it’s the perfect game to turn it around for them.”
The similar may very well be stated for Liverpool, which has additionally underwhelmed thus far with attracts in opposition to Fulham and Crystal Palace and is already 4 factors behind title rival Manchester City.
Injuries are taking their toll, with gamers like Thiago Alcantara, Joel Matip and Diogo Jota out, whereas the thrust and power of the departed ahead Sadio Mane is sorely missed. The man who successfully changed Mane, Darwin Núñez, is suspended for the United match after getting despatched off for headbutting an opponent in opposition to Palace.
Liverpool retains getting off to sluggish begins, too, having conceded first in eight of its final 9 matches in all competitions.
If United was to win, all of a sudden numerous the warmth may change to Jurgen Klopp.
On present type, although, that appears unlikely. Stretching again to the tip of final season, United is on a four-match shedding run and its gamers are nonetheless getting used to Ten Hag’s strategies.
Weekend work.#MUFC || #MUNLIV pic.twitter.com/gQ4XZ0CRAL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 20, 2022
It will likely be fascinating to see, for instance, if United continues to play out from the again — the strategy which backfired badly in opposition to Brentford — or takes a extra pragmatic view in opposition to a Liverpool group so robust at urgent from the entrance.
And will Ronaldo begin once more? He was rushed again in opposition to Brentford, regardless of not being match-sharp after lacking a lot of preseason, and there’s nonetheless a lot uncertainty over his future.
“He is in our plans, that’s what I can say,” Ten Hag stated Friday, when requested if Ronaldo can be on the membership when the switch window closes on Sept. 1.
First of all, although, let’s see if the match considered the largest in English soccer really goes forward this time.
“I can only say the owners want to win and the fans – we want them behind the club,” Ten Hag stated of the deliberate prematch protest. “I can perceive typically (the sentiment) however I’m not that lengthy within the membership to see all of the background.
“We have to fight together and be unified.”
