The English press, and in particular Sky Sports, was not mistaken when announcing that Erik ten Hag would make strong choices for the shock of the 3rd day of the Premier League between Manchester United and Liverpool, Monday evening. The Dutch technician has indeed decided to do without the services of Cristiano Ronaldo at the forefront, at least at kick-off. The spleen of the Portuguese, who would like to leave the club, and his unsuitable body language since the start of the season have obviously got the better of the patience of the ex-coach of Ajax.
Already on the bench on the first day against Brighton (1-2), “CR7” could do nothing to avoid the debacle of the following week in Brentford (4-0). It is an Elanga-Rashford-Sancho trio who will be responsible for making him forget. But that’s not all, since the usual captain Harry Maguire will also be on the bench, which will benefit Raphaël Varane, who had only been entitled to one entry into play since the start of the season.
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United will therefore want to avoid a third defeat in a row against a Liverpool that is not at its best either. Reds who will rely on an offensive trio Salah-Firmino-Diaz to try to push their historic enemy.
The Manchester United team : De Gea – Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Malacia – Eriksen, McTominay, Fernandes – Elanga, Rashford, Sancho.
The Liverpool Comp : Alisson – Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson – Milner, Henderson, Elliott – Salah, Firmino, Diaz.
The Contested Glazers
Hundreds of Manchester United supporters gathered outside Old Trafford ahead of the Premier League Matchday 3 game against Liverpool on Monday to demand the departure of American owners, the Glazer family. “Glazer dehors !”, “Love United, Hate Glazers,” “United (or united) against the Glazers“, the slogans hostile to the wealthy Florida family were displayed on the banners, while sometimes violent songs were sung in chorus by the disgruntled fans.
Green and yellow jerseys, scarves and smoke – the colors of Newton Heath, the ancestor club of Manchester United – were also out, under a heavy and threatening sky. At 8 p.m. (French time), a procession for supporters covered the short distance between a pub, the Tollgate, and the statue of the “Trinity”, George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton, just in front of the stadium. At the head of the procession, a banner proclaimed “United for $ale” (United for sale), reflecting the general wish to see the club change hands soon.
It is not, far from it, the first demonstration against the Glazers, owners of the club since 2005 and accused of being responsible for the sporting decline of the former dominating club in England. Before the match on the first day, with the reception of Brighton (1-2), a much smaller demonstration had forced the club to close its store at the stadium. In 2021, before a match against Liverpool, already, which was to take place behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the lawn of the “Theater of Dreams” had even been invaded by angry fans, leading to the postponement Match.
The meeting will also take place in a depressed sporting context, after two defeats in the first two days, unheard of for the Red Devils since the 1992/1993 season. A third defeat against the Reds who are also late in ignition, with two draws in two matches, would be unprecedented since 1986.
(With AFP)
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