THE GLAZER family are certainly not off the hook.
The hatred of Manchester United’s fans towards their owners is just too great.
Yet an evening which threatened to become mind-blowingly toxic ended with wild celebrations among the players and fans.
In the end, this disenchanted group of fans who feared a battering by Liverpool went home talking about Erik ten Hag’s impressive, fiercely-committed team, rather than the money-grabbing Glazers.
So sitting at home in Florida, the Glazers will have been relieved that Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford bailed them out, for the time being.
You can only guess what would have happened here had Liverpool managed a repeat of their 5-0 win here last season.
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A couple more United victories and the anger will disappear, until United’s next dodgy run of results.
There was still some unpleasant stuff around such as calls for Joel Glazer to die. After the opening goal, the first chant was: “We want Glazers out.”
Even Liverpool fans got involved and took the pee with a mock protest. Holding pictures of Joel Glazer in front of their faces, the fans chanted: “Up the Glazers.”
The march by about 10,000 fans seemed to be peaceful without any major issues, as feared.
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And the atmosphere during the game, apart from the occasional lull, was just sensational. You do not say that too often about the Theatre of Dreams where some fans appear fast asleep.
Earlier in the day, United cancelled their player meet-up at the city’s Lowry Hotel for fears that the bus could be stopped from getting to the ground. Instead, the players went directly to Old Trafford.
And aware of what was happening outside the stadium, the club went into public relations overdrive inside the ground.
Euro 2022 winners Ella Toone, Alessia Russo, Mary Earps and Nikita Parris were paraded on the pitch.
FRESH FOCUS
Also wheeled out, to great applause, was new midfielder Casemiro who will make United stronger in central midfield, not that it could get much weaker.
Yet a £70m deal is still a ridiculous sum as they are unlikely to get more than two years out of the 30-year-old.
He was clearly savouring the atmosphere although hopefully someone told him that it is not always like this.
Weirdly, there was no music until 7.54pm. At least you could hear the anti-Glazer songs even clearer.
STILL VIBING
There were huge jeers when Michael Oliver’s name was read out moments before kick-off yet when the referee blew his whistle, the sound was deafening.
There were screams from 70,000-plus punters when Marcus Rashford was clipped by Trent Alexander-Arnold just outside the area.
But that was nothing compared to the explosive noise generated by the fans when Jadon Sancho scored after leaving James Milner on his backside.
Sancho has not had much luck in front of goal for United so it was no surprise than Bruno Fernandes – hilariously – could be seen pointing to the corner where he wanted the England international to shoot. Sancho duly obliged.
As James Milner vented his anger at Virgil van Dijk for his impression of a statue, Sancho winger celebrated in front of the Liverpool fans.
SONG BIRDS
And when United’s fans chanted: “Your support is f***ing shit”, Liverpool’s supporters, referring to the protest, said: “You’re supposed to be outside.”
After a terrific 25 minutes from United, Liverpool sorted themselves out. Five minutes before the break, with Jurgen Klopp’s team dominating possession, there was a huge roar from the entire crowd in a bid to lift the team.
Although seconds later, they nearly witnessed a spectacular own goal when Fernandes booted the ball inexplicably straight at Lisandro Martinez.
Liverpool fans were unusually subdued throughout the match. It got worse at the start of the second half when Marcus Rashford seized on the mistake by Jordan Henderson to make it 2-0.
Henderson made way for Fabinho and as the Brazilian arrived, the home fans chanted: “You’re just a s**t Casemiro.”
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Apart from a small corner of Old Trafford, the ground went silent when Mo Salah headed the ball past David De Gea.
But in the end, United held out and the pressure is off the team. Now, we can all focus on just how bad Liverpool are.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
