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Liverpool vs. Man United: A classic turned lopsided

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The clash between Liverpool and Manchester United has traditionally involved the fiercest rivalry in English football.

However, the upcoming encounter on Sunday at Anfield showcases two teams heading in opposite directions.

Liverpool, currently leading the Premier League and the Champions League, aims to equal the United’s record of 20 national titles, with aspirations for even more.

In the Premier League, they have lost to United only once in the past seven years, and their most recent meeting ended in a 3-0 victory for Liverpool at Old Trafford back in September.

Meanwhile, United finds itself closer to the relegation zone than the top, enduring another disastrous campaign that has seen the departure of a manager and a sporting director, as well as the exile of one of their key players.

The gap between Liverpool and United is widening, with one in contention for a haul of trophies while the other is preoccupied with survival in the top tier.

How have the two most successful teams in English football found themselves in such contrasting situations?

United has faced a troubling decline since clinching their record twentieth title in the 2012-2013 season, which was Sir Alex Ferguson’s last campaign as manager.

Since Ferguson’s retirement, they have struggled to come close to winning another title. Ruben Amorim is the sixth permanent manager appointed in over 11 years.

David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and Erik ten Hag have failed to achieve consistent success, and the churn of managerial changes has repeatedly hampered United’s progress, leading to a constant change in direction.

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Amorim quickly grasped the enormity of the challenge after suffering six defeats in his last eight matches. This week he admitted that they could be in a relegation battle.

“It is a possibility,” he said. “We need to be clear with our fans.”

While the Red Devils have been a disaster in their attempts to replace a top-tier manager, Liverpool has made the task seem effortless.

Arne Slot took on the challenging position of filling the void left by Jürgen Klopp at the end of last season and has propelled the team to new heights.

Klopp won a complete set of trophies at Anfield, with the only hindrance to further success in the being Pep Guardiola’s , lifting the trophy only in 2020.

Slot has Liverpool leading the Premier League by six points with a game in hand, three points clear in the Champions League, and into the semifinals of the Carabao Cup.

Perhaps fortunate to take charge as City falters, Liverpool’s 14 wins in 18 league matches would make them title challengers in any season.

United’s leadership has spent billions, but there have been more costly mistakes than successes in the transfer market.

Star signings such as Argentine Ángel di María, Chilean Alexis Sánchez, Paul Pogba, Casemiro, and Jadon Sancho have turned out to be major disappointments.

Since the last transfer window, signings like Joshua Zirkzee and Matthijs de Ligt have also struggled.

Amorim may need to consider some sales in January if he wants to bring in new players, with Marcus Rashford, recently excluded from the team, possibly being his best chance to raise funds.

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In contrast, Liverpool has been one of the shrewdest operators in the transfer market over the past decade.

When they have splashed the cash, it has generally been well-spent, with figures like Virgil van Dijk and Alisson being cornerstones of their trophy haul. Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson have been relative bargains.

Under the ownership of the Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the American conglomerate that also owns the Boston Red Sox, Liverpool has once again become a major force in England and Europe, ending a 30-year title drought in the Premier League.

The hiring of Klopp was crucial for this, but so was Michael Edwards, the sporting director credited with many of the transfer successes.

He left the role in 2022 but has returned as FSG’s football CEO and helped guide Slot’s transition.

The Glazer family, owners of United, has faced frequent protests from fans since 2005 when they conducted a leveraged buyout of the club.

The minority investment from British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe generated optimism last year.

He took control of the club’s sporting operations but the desired results have been elusive thus far.

Ten Hag was sacked months after signing a contract extension, and sporting director Dan Ashworth departed after less than a semester in charge.

Ratcliffe’s first summer transfer window signings also appear questionable.

United currently sits 14th in the Premier League, just seven points clear of the relegation zone.

Meanwhile, Liverpool is enjoying an outstanding campaign, yet they have significant issues to resolve.

Salah, Van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all set to enter the final year of their contracts after this season. Salah and Van Dijk are over 30, raising questions about the validity of the contracts Liverpool should offer them.

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Alexander-Arnold, in the meantime, is reportedly being courted by .

Amorim’s immediate concern is how to reverse United’s poor form. In the long term, his squad seems ill-equipped for his preferred system.

Culled from FootBoom


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