Premier League: faced with the revolt of its supporters, Manchester United receives Liverpool on a volcano

Premier League Matchday 3 is not yet over as the Red Devils are already struggling in hell. At the time of welcoming Liverpool, the great rival of the North, Manchester United of Erik ten Hag is already playing in a powder keg at the Old Trafford stadium. The two initial defeats of the Mancunians, against the rankless Brighton (2-1) and Brentford (4-0), increased the pressure among the supporters.

Nineteenth in the Premier League after two days and deprived of the Champions League this season, Red Devils fans feel a new surge of rage against their owner, the wealthy American family Glazer, embodied by the brothers Joël and Avram, of whom they keep asking to leave. At Old Trafford, the « Glazer out » signs are now part of the decorum of the stands. Since the arrival of the latter in 2005, they have criticized them for the erratic management of the club, for putting profit before the future of the historic club they cherish.

This Monday evening, a parade that can bring together up to 10,000 people is already scheduled before the closing match of the 3rd day. An hour before kick-off, around 8 p.m. (French time), thousands of supporters will meet in front of the Tollgate pub, near Old Trafford, and will wander to the surroundings of the stadium, where the statues of club legends George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton.

The fear of new clashes with the police

However, fan anger is likely to go beyond a simple protest. In recent days, the leaders of various United supporter groups have been active on WhatsApp, in order to prevent a repetition of the incidents at Manchester – Liverpool in April last year (match scheduled behind closed doors), which led to the game being canceled and postponed – Liverpool eventually won 4-2. The demonstration, of the type planned for this evening, had slipped. Clashes had occurred with the police and supporters had prevented the access of their team’s bus to the stadium.

« We have nothing to do with the situation if the (United) fans don’t want the game to go ahead, » Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said. We can’t rearrange the game and try to squeeze it somewhere into an incredibly busy period,” he added, arguing that Liverpool had 25 games to play between now and the World Cup in mid-November.