Manchester United take on Liverpool in the Premier League tonight, but the action on the pitch looks set to play second fiddle to more drama off the pitch at Old Trafford. Supporters’ anger at the Glazer family’s ownership is growing by the day and a protest is being organized by underground fan group ‘The 1958’ ahead of tonight’s game. From 7pm, they will march from The Tollgate to The Trinity to show their displeasure with the Glazers and demand the Americans sell out. In the build-up to tonight’s game, Sky Sports have aired an exclusive interview with Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag, conducted by Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher, who grills the Dutchman after the club’s dismal start to the campaign which made them overcome their defeats. Brighton and Brentford. And the manager made a big call this afternoon dropping captain Harry Maguire and superstar forward Cristiano Ronaldo to the bench. Catch all the pre-game build-up and updates ahead of the action from the match itself below:
Man Utd vs Liverpool – latest updates
Manchester United take on Liverpool at Old Trafford (kick-off 8pm BST) Manchester United: De Gea, Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Malaysia, McTominay, Eriksen, Fernandes, Sancho, Elanga, Rashford Liverpool 11: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Gomez, Robertson, Elliott, Milner, Henderson, Salah, Diaz, Firmino
Show latest update 1661195412
Manchester United 0-0 Liverpool
9 mins: Christian Eriksen takes the free-kick and wins a corner for Manchester United. The home side’s next set was easily dismissed by Liverpool, but this was a brilliant start from the Red Devils. They play with rhythm and desire. Michael Jones 22 August 2022 20:10 1661195267
Manchester United 0-0 Liverpool
6 minutes: Almost! James Milner cuts in between Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez and is fed into the box by Roberto Firmino. Milner looks to turn towards goal, but Dalot and Martinez close him down and clear him of the ball before he can shoot. At the other end of the pitch, Marcus Rashford sneaks in behind Trent Alexander-Arnold and draws the right-back into a foul. Free kick for Man Utd. Michael Jones 22 August 2022 20:07 1661195086
Manchester United 0-0 Liverpool
3 mins: Some heavy tackling is already taking place in the middle of the pitch much to the delight of the spectators. An errant pass sees Marcus Rashford play between Liverpool’s two centre-backs and he carries the ball into the box before seeing goal. Virgil van Dijk is the nearest man to him and tracks down Rashford in the area before getting in the way of the effort. Michael Jones 22 August 2022 20:04 1661194928
Kick off: Man Utd 0-0 Liverpool
Liverpool start the game and fire the ball down the left side of the pitch where United’s defense clears it easily. The visitors play the ball back to Alisson, who takes it across the pitch to Mo Salah. Salah looks to bring it under control and is brought down by Lisandro Martinez. Michael Jones 22 August 2022 20:02 1661194608
Man Utd vs Liverpool
Bruno Fernandes leads the home side with Harry Maguire and Cristiano Ronaldo both on the bench. Jordan Henderson returns to captain Liverpool. The first goal tonight could be crucial. If Liverpool score early the wheels could quickly come off for Man Utd. Michael Jones 22 August 2022 19:56 1661194146
Worrying sign?
Since Cristiano Ronaldo rejoined Manchester United, the club have won more games with him up front than with him on the bench. Is it a worrying sign for Erik ten Hag’s men that he will feature as a substitute tonight? Michael Jones 22 August 2022 19:49 1661193966
More from Ten Hag
Erik ten Hag’s pre-match thoughts also went to new signing Casemiro, who joins the club from Real Madrid. Ten Haag says he is very happy with the midfielder and also touched on some of the decisions he made tonight. “He [Casemiro] it’s the cement between the stones, that’s what we were looking for in the summer and we found it. Very happy with his signature.” said the United boss, “We have a team, we have a lot of games to cover and it was better to make these changes for this game. “Varan is a very experienced player, he won everything and he will bring communication to the back four. We want mobility and flexibility in the foursome. Michael Jones 22 August 2022 19:46 1661193786
Fabinho hopes Liverpool will heap further misery on Manchester United and Erik ten Hag
Liverpool were five goals up and one of their players was urging them forward, calling for more, looking for the kind of scoreline that could truly humiliate a beleaguered Manchester United side already down to 10 men. It was admittedly difficult for them to heed or listen to his instructions because Fabinho wasn’t barking at them from his usual position at the base of midfield. Perhaps United should be relieved he was injured, sat at home and shouted at the TV. “I wanted the team to attack more to try to score more goals because we had one more player,” Fabinho said. “But it was the moment when the team tried to control the game more and stabilize the ball. As a fan, I wanted the team to score more because it was a great opportunity to make a historic score at Old Trafford, but of course 5-0 wasn’t bad.” Not bad, in his verdict, it was still historic, Liverpool’s biggest ever margin of victory at United’s home ground.
Fabinho hopes Liverpool will heap further misery on Manchester United and Erik ten Hag
Fabinho was absent for Liverpool’s 5-0 win at their bitter rivals last season, but says of their return to Old Trafford: “I don’t care if a win pushes them a bit further into the crisis.” Michael Jones 22 August 2022 19:43 1661193560
Ten Hag explains his decision to ditch Ronaldo
Erik ten Hag made the decision to start Cristiano Ronaldo from the bench tonight and explained his reasoning by saying: “We know Liverpool are a very good team and you have to push them. You have to do it from blocks and you need energy, so we went with Rashford, Sancho, Elanga “I know this is the biggest game in the UK, I’m really excited to be at this game.” Michael Jones 22 August 2022 19:39 1661193263 Michael Jones 22 August 2022 19:34
