Dugout Discussion

Man Utd v Liverpool postponed after protests in and around Old Trafford

Sunday’s Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool has been officially postponed following supporter protests inside and outside Old Trafford.

No new date has yet been announced by the Premier League but available windows are thin on the ground.

Thousands of Manchester United fans had been protesting against the club’s ownership ahead of kick-off, with supporters present around the stadium and separately holding up the departure of the team buses from the Lowry Hotel.

A small section of fans had also made it onto the pitch during the demonstration.

A statement from United said:

Following discussion between the Police, The Premier League, Trafford Council and the clubs, our match against Liverpool has been postponed due to safety and security considerations around the protest today. Discussions will now take place with the Premier League on a revised date for the fixture.

Our fans are passionate about Manchester United, and we completely acknowledge the right to free expression and peaceful protest. 
 
However, we regret the disruption to the team and actions which put other fans, staff, and the police in danger. We thank the police for their support and will assist them in any subsequent investigations.

The Premier League added in their own statement:

Following the security breach at Old Trafford, the Manchester United v Liverpool game has been postponed. This is a collective decision from the police, both clubs, the Premier League and local authorities. The security and safety of everyone at Old Trafford remains of paramount importance.

We understand and respect the strength of feeling but condemn all acts of violence, criminal damage and trespass, especially given the associated COVID-19 breaches. Fans have many channels by which to make their views known, but the actions of a minority seen today have no justification.

We sympathise with the police and stewards who had to deal with a dangerous situation that should have no place in football.

The rearrangement of the fixture will be communicated in due course.

WHEN COULD THE REARRANGED MATCH TAKE PLACE?

Man Utd v Liverpool kick-off delayed as protesting fans invade Old Trafford pitch 2

Playing the rearranged game tomorrow night (still within Gameweek 34) is one scenario providing security concerns aren’t an ongoing issue and any relevant rearrangements can be made, with the Red Devils still getting a 72-hour window before their rematch with Roma.

Aside from that, the only free slot that Manchester United have is on the weekend of May 15/16 (Gameweek 36) – when Liverpool are in action against West Bromwich Albion.

West Brom v Liverpool could, theoretically, be moved back a few days into the midweek of Gameweek 35, creating a ‘double’ for both teams and allowing Manchester United v Liverpool to take place in Gameweek 36:

Thanks again to Legomane for the graphic.

TEAM NEWS

The teamsheets had actually been released as normal an hour before the scheduled kick-off time.

The headline news was that Diogo Jota (£7.1m) was only among the substitutes, with Jurgen Klopp reverting back to his tried-and-tested 4-3-3 set-up following a dalliance with a more attacking formation last weekend.

Jota was one of two players who dropped out of the starting XI, with Georginio Wijnaldum (£5.3m) also making way.

Nat Phillips (£4.1m) had been passed fit, while James Milner (£5.3m) was recalled in the middle of the park.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s line-up showed only one change from the side he sent out to face Leeds United last weekend.

Paul Pogba (£7.6m) returned, with Daniel James (£6.2m) dropping out.

SUNDAY’S OTHER GAMEWEEK 34 ACTION

A match that had very little impact on the upper echelons of Fantasy Premier League went the way of the visitors at St James’ Park.

Thanks to a combination of injuries, rotation and general disinterest in either side, not a single player on show had an effective ownership of greater than 0.27% in the top 10k.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.3m) was back in the starting XI after a spell out with malaria and continued his fine individual record against a listless and potentially ‘on the beach’ Newcastle United, scoring one and fortuitously assisting another en route to a first double-digit haul since Gameweek 24.

A third of his 12 attacking returns this season have come against the Magpies.

Budget FPL midfielder Gabriel Martinelli (£4.9m) set up the Gabon international’s goal, with the even-cheaper Mohamed Elneny (£4.2m) scoring the opener following an Aubameyang miscue.

Bernd Leno (£5.0m), Bukayo Saka (£5.1m), Emile Smith Rowe (£4.2m) and Rob Holding (£4.3m) were all either unused substitutes or not involved as Arteta once again ran wild with the rotation with one eye on Europe.

Arsenal were again without Kieran Tierney (£5.2m) and Alexandre Lacazette (£8.4m), with Arteta offering a pessimistic update ahead of kick-off.


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1,576 Comments Post a Comment
  1. WVA
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Embarrassing

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      You can delete your account if you don't like your post history.

      1. WVA
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Then who would you troll?

  2. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Watkins 8 and Burn 6. Thank you

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Game could be played tomorrow

      1. WVA
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        It wont

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Source?

          1. Twisted Saltergater
            • 14 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            jam not sauce

          2. WVA
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            My bench

        2. Qaiss
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          It might have to because of their schedule, they just need to clean the stadium due to Covid.

    2. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      strawberry conserve

      1. Elfozzie 42
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Surely that's a jam not a source?

        1. Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          dollops of jam for the OP!

  3. A. PRISE
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Does this mean that all players blank, even if the game is played tomorrow? How will this work?

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        2 years, 11 months ago

        We don't know

      • OverTinker
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        ofcoures not

      • Rotation's Alter Ego
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Nope. If it's moved to tomorrow you'll still get the points.

      • Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        TBC

      • Tango74
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        If it gets played tomorrow it would count as its same GW

        I dont think it will be

        I'm screwed as well

        1. A. PRISE
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Everyone is man, cheer up!

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Trent & Shaw 3 BAPs each.

    3. Shark Team
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Man Utd will accept playing tomorrow I think instead of losing the game 0-3 cause it was their responsibility that the game didn't take place.

    4. grumpyman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Down to 6 players. I’m going to bed.

      1. A. PRISE
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        7 here but everyone is pretty much screwed..

        1. grumpyman
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          My rival has just 2 from this game and a full bench. Massive swing. Praying it’s on tomorrow.

    5. Salan
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Whenever a team doesn't want to play now (may be key players injured), the club can send some ppl into their own pitch and do the same, to get the postponement without any consequences.

      1. vova
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        not a realistic scenario and would be stamped down very quickly

        1. Salan
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          this can be realistic and true

          1. Rassi
            • 9 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            No.

      2. Warblers
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Ridiculous.

    6. WVA
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      My bench Leno 0 Jota 0 Rudiger 0 Coufal ?

      What a surprise

    7. gooberman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      The one game that gets called off just happens to be between 2 teams who I own 3 players each from. Unbelievably cruel. FPL is over for me now until next season.

      1. Calculated Risks
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Calm down if it's rearranged for tomorrow it'll still be this fantasy gw

        1. gooberman
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          seems unlikely it will be as soon as tomorrow though.

      2. Hey_Arnold
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        It's ok princess, your life will continue. Deep breaths and you will come through the other side.

    8. Calculated Risks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Not sure it'd be postponed in non Covid times

      1. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Atmosphere would have been amazing.

    9. Chandler Bing
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Why are people already celebrating bench points? Surely the game can be played tomorrow?

      1. TomSaints
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Yep very likely it’ll still be then.

        Good thing neither team has champions league!

      2. Tango74
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        i doubt it, i think they would have said and Man u have europa?

        What is wierd is people wanting top be cancelled for the sake of FPL

        1. Chandler Bing
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Europa is on the 7th tho. 4 days between tomorrow and then.

      3. cheekumz
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        or theoretically any time before the deadline for next GW would count as this GW.

    10. Kun Tozser
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Dock United 10 points

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Yeah!

    11. The Train Driver
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      "a new kick off time is expected to be confirmed shortly".

      1. Ozzy smith
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        It’s off.

    12. Booked4Dissent
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Second time in season > a third of my team not played because of off the pitch pandamonium. This will cost me £250 cash mini league prize. If @officialFPL punish don’t make it fair with lost points then I won’t play next season.

      1. The Habib Beyes
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Im sure FPL will miss you

      2. Now I'm Panicking
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        It's against the rules to be in a cash ML

      3. boc610
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        ok bye then

    13. TomSaints
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Well that’s 6 players scoring 0 this week. A new personal record.

      I’m sympathetic to the protest but this will do way more harm than good. Lazy Headlines of Hooligans and violence

      1. WVA
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Try 7 so far,

        Leno Shaw TAA Bruno Salah Jota Rudiger

        1. TomSaints
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Ouch

      2. grumpyman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        8 here.

      3. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Even the Sky Sports presenter tried to push the narrative of 'Neville wants fans to wreak havoc and postpone games' AT Gary Neville himself by interrupting him, instead of listening to his points. His own colleague.

        Btw I would have 7 players not playing if the game doesn't happen this week. 2 playing keepers and no players I would consider non-playing fodder either.

      4. TomSaints
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Whoops forgot Philips. 7 0s lol

    14. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Extra day rest for Man Utd, cool!

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        That 6-2 win was even more massive in the grand scheme now.

    15. OverTinker
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Any chance Jota starts tomorrow?

    16. Forza Papac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Game off. Very cool. Ben White cleanie for me

    17. OLD Rafiki
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Pathetic united fans

      1. Warblers
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Because they're principled?

    18. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Jota off the bench

    19. OrmskirkFC
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      FPL website has all the United/Pool players at 0 points for 0 minutes played, so no bench.

      1. OverTinker
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        surely it will be updated or not???

        1. OrmskirkFC
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Of course, I'm just pointing out that they started scoring the players that were in the starting lineups for now.

        2. Eh, just one more thing ...
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          It will depend when the game is played ... could still be in this game week ... you’ll get your subs if it’s moved to another game week.

      2. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        That would be beautifully funny - have 5 starters

    20. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Match postponed Watkins assist

    21. Muscout
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Had 4 in this fixture what a joke

      What’s the chances it would get played tomorrow / this GW

      1. Elfozzie 42
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Given the upcoming schedule the path of least resistance would be to play it tomorrow.

    22. Well you know, Triffic
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Pool to Manchester is under an hour's drive. Won't be too hard to reschedule.

    23. Garlana
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      4 players in that game...hurts. fingers crossed it's in tomorrow

      1. WVA
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        4 ain't a lot

    24. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      So ... let’s get see who fields the least players the game week (assuming rearranged game is moved to a different game week)? 8 for me because Dias and Rudiger no shows ..... but I’ll bet many got hit harder?

    25. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Really hope it gets played tomorrow.

    26. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Lots of people getting Welbz and Veltman sub points 🙁

    27. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      5 players in this game but a United fan first and foremost. Buzzing it's off.

    28. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Really Man Utd should raid Leeds and get Phillips, Raphinha and Bamford.

      Cavani is not the long-term solution for up front. Missing a top DM and a RW.

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Raphinia in particular would be an incredible signing for them - plugging in a problem position for them & is a proper team player, very unselfish

        So would Bamford & Philips in all likelihood - but Raphinia in particular

        Pogba & Martial could be sold easily enough without impacting things too much either

      2. Goro Majima
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Raphinha yes. Bamford no chance. Phillips...maybe.