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. Salan
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Same Manu fans can protest and go into the pitch every matches the team play in the coming days.

    Postponements? How many time you can do this?

    It's a ridiculous decision.

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

      If it gets the Glazers to sell up, its worth it!

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

        It won't.

        Glazers may sell but not because of this protest.

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

          Doing nothing, and they will never leave, start to disrupt games, sponsors will get annoyed, ask for rebates, and thats the only place the Glazers will notice, it it hits them in their own pockets.

          Otherwise they will continue to take their dividends, and come back in a year or 2 and push for a different version of the ESL, where they can double/triple the club value overnight, and then cash in all their chips.

      2. Scholes Out For Summer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        The Glazers could care less about the game postponement, they probably didnt even know the game was on

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

          Once games are disrupted, and sponsors ask for cash back, you can be sure they will start to care and take notice.

          1. Pep bites Kun
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            I agree they'll take notice but more due to the adverse reporting of events with their names mentioned. It'll obviously have a knock-on effect to share value and shareholder confidence. The measure of impact is yet to be seen, but it has made an impact.

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

        Agreed but unfortunately I don't think it will have that much impact. Would like to be proved wrong. The other thing is - who are they going to sell to that isn't going to be another set of self-interested scumbags?

  2. El Presidente
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    I think Liverpool deserve the 3 pts and that's it. They have nothing to do with this, totally careless ManU officials and Manchester police. Everyone was aware of what was going to happen.

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

      I'm a neutral fan and I dont agree with you

    2. Supersonic Marv'
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Speaking as a Liverpool fan I strongly disagree with this.

    3. HNI
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      After 10 years of peaceful protests against Glazers, something had to give..even Gandhiji would have understood this step after decade of protests

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

      It should be.

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

    Spurs lineup?

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

      Pigeons are just arriving now mate.

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

      https://www.reddit.com/r/fantasypl/comments/n3b2hq

      Moura benched. Dele starts.

      1. Big boy Bowen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Kane/Son?

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

          Literally linked the lineup...

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

    Stan Collymore has not had this much exposure since he beat up Ulrika Jonsson in a bar in Paris.

  5. HNI
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    "Our fans are passionate about Manchester United, and we completely acknowledge the right to free expression and peaceful protest. "
    - Manutd Statement
    No cover up or request for harsh punishment. Guess everyone is sick of Glazers now. Out in open now. EVERYONE

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      you missed the part where they said breaking the law and causing disruption to the team, staff and local police is not acceptable

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

        They'll be dealt with rightfully but on the whole it was peaceful outside.

      2. HNI
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Yes but it wasnt asking for harsh punishment. Unacceptable is not harshly worded even by British standards of chivalry

  6. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Can’t wait for teams to start protesting in their stadium getting games cancelled when they have a couple injuries. The Prem need to stamp their authority and punish the club to prevent it happening again

    1. Supersonic Marv'
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      That is categorically not what happened.

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      It's England, not North Korea. People have a right to protest, a few of them got hot under the collar, but they got plenty of media coverage for it.

      1. Supersonic Marv'
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Don't forget the tories are trying to legislate against protests in this country.

        1. GreennRed
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          I'm Irish Marvin. But I take your point. Isn't Brexit largely about Tories keeping their pockets fuller and not having Brussels looking over their shoulder as they push legislation through Westminster. Not a fan of Tories or any party that hasn't at least got some socialist beliefs but I think ye've dodged a bullet by not having Comrade Corbyn in charge of the opposition.

    3. Quan MisTaka
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      'The Prem need to stamp their authority'

      God forbid anyone protests anything these days. How disgracful that anything be disrupted

      You need to wise up

    4. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      PL are not the authority that deal with public behaviour. As long as protests are peaceful, fans have a right to their say. They have invested and therefore have a right to have a say in the future of their clubs. A customer has a right to express their opinion about a product they've bought. The question however is this; do they have the right to influence the future evolution of the product?

  7. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    I can't believe I'm counting on Spurs to save me.

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

    Assuming Kane plays I'll have 7 players this week. Of which they have mustered one assist between them. 13 points with 1 to play. Joke!

  9. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    I guess there’s a likely chance it’s rearranged this week at some point

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      United have roma on Thursday. If its not tomorrow then its another GW

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

    A guy in my ML has a defense of

    Phillips Rudiger Dias Mitchell Holding

    Gotta feel bad for the guy. Was challenging for a Top 3 spot too.

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

    Dele Alli, Son, Bale and Kane up top.

  12. el polako
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    All those complaining about getting none or few points of their benches, I'm getting -2 for Vestergard who was sitting firmly as my 3rd sub this week.

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

      Hahah are you me?

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

        And thats the only thing im getting from my bench
        Cant wait for this f season to end

        1. el polako
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Feel your pain bro.

    2. threeputt
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      he was sitting squarely in my team postponements or not ! I did bring in JWP however so not all bad

      1. el polako
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Win some lose some.

    3. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Me too ånd second time this season i get minus points for red cards that are rescinded. I think they should do something about that.

  13. Bagheri Arce
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Liverpool v West Brom DGW35 (midweek)
    Man Utd v Liverpool GW36?

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Maybe

  14. Cantona's Kung Fu Kick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    alli, bale, son and kane start

  15. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Is it still a social media blackout if your logged in reading tweets?

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

      Nope.

    2. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      How dare you. I’ve been off the internet all weekend. Will go back on tomorrow in respect

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

      I don't have a twitter account - does my boycott count?

    4. Maddi Son
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      That's what the virtue signallers will be doing yes.

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

    Kane starts wahoooo

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      He starts even if unfit. Now let’s see how those ankles are?

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

        Can u image if he didn’t After postponed game lol

  17. Vinyl78LP
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Unless they can rock up tomorrow, I had 5 Utd/Liv no-shows plus Michael Keane/Saka no shows. Farcical FPL season for me finally capped off 🙂

  18. Granville
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    I've lost 5 players today. Anyone worse off?

    1. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      6

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

      I've lost the season long time ago 😆

    3. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      5 in start starting 11. Jota on the bench

    4. Granville
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I'll take it every time if it edges the Glazers out of the club.

    5. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      5 in this match plus Holding.

      Started 3 at the back. So unless the postponed match players count as no shows I won’t even get my autosub points from Welbeck!

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

        Aced it Don - they'll be no shows surely - well done 😉

        1. Don Kloppeone
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Hmm why doesn’t it feel like I aced it

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

      6 + had Holding 🙂 If he'd started, probably gets a cleanie!

    7. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I think this just saved my game week despite losing Mo Shaw TAA ...

      Sold Bruno, no Greenwood, benched Jota , veltman 3rd sub on

  19. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    So I’m on 12 points from 8 but it’s really from 2. Holding no show + Salah, Jota, TAA, Bruno and Shaw.

    Welbeck first on bench.

    Fed up with this game 🙁

  20. MarvelouSuccess
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    It's amazing how 2 weeks ago we were all united against these treacherous owners but now this protest makes us the villains? I don't think so.

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I guess there’s a way to go about it

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

        It was mostly peaceful apart from some of them on the pitch. The law breakers will be punished.

    2. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      the idiots who broke the law are the villains

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

        Most of them weren't breaking the law though

    3. xHaTr
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Protests are one thing. This was hooliganism and vandalism

      United fans acting like they have been hard done by is really quite pathetic

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

        I don't condone that though. I do respect the peaceful protests that happened though.

      2. Quan MisTaka
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        This was more than one thing. But the mian thing was a protest, not 'hooliganism and vandalism'

  21. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Kane and Son to take me to double figures, currently on 9 (-4) lol

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

      Oof!

  22. Mweene
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Can't work out if this is good for my FPL team or not.

    Only fielding 10 with Coady and Semedo off the bench so I guess not.

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

    So. No Bruno, Salah or Jota for me today... but then Holding didn't feature either... nor Azpi. FIVE of my starting 11. I'm relying now on some impressive magic sponging at West Ham in order to see any sort of green arrow.

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

      I have 7 points atm, with no shows from Azpi, Gundogan, TAA, Robbo, Shaw, Bruno and 1 pointers from Bamford and Dallas - think the worst FPL week of my season by far!

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

        5 currently, but have Cresswell, Targett (2) and Brewster off the bench... suppose a 6-6 belter this evening might do me?

  24. HNI
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    After 10 years of peaceful protests against Glazers, something had to give..even Gandhiji would have understood this step after decade of protests. I expected all fans to support strong protests against ESL and American greed. Surprised some are still ignorant to it. I hope Arsenal and Liverpool follow Manutd

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

    Son(c) And Reguilon

    Lets get this party started!

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

    Dele's rasta hair will steal the show tonight

  27. JONALDINHO
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    9 pts from 10 players. I love this game

    1. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Similar, I guess most in same boat tbf

  28. keefy59
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Is Mark getting any points off his bench from this postponed game ?

  29. lordkippe
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Son(C), Coufal & Soucek to go. Went without Kane and got Havertz instead. Praying Harry stays quiet. Guess he will get a hattrick

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

    Every team fans can do the same if they dislike their team owners, if no any punishments on fans and clubs.

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

      That is an absurd conclusion. It suggests to me you really don't understand the point of the protest. Here's a hint: it isn't about you or your silly FPL team..

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

        So fans of other clubs are supposed to sit there and believe that United fans have been hard done by?

        Quite pathetic really, go and ask fans of teams in league 2 who cant afford to pay their players what its like to feel hard done by

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

          this 100%

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

          Good say. So if this protest including disturbing a match to be praised, any team fans can do the same. It's my meaning.

          So someone think this is alright?

        3. Quan MisTaka
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Its not about being 'hard done by.' its about not having the team you follow being owned by people who dont give a f*** about the fans.Its bigger than man uinted and i expect youll see more from other fans

        4. Scholes Out For Summer
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          whooosh. Really missed the point there

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

        You statement is really an absurd conclusion.

        Point of protest? so when you have a good point to do to the protest, you can do ANYTHING in the protest? You answer this!

        Ridiculous, it's nothing about anyone's FPL team, Silly!

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

          It's not like fans can boycott the game. Makes more sense to do the opposite, not that I agree with breaking social distancing guidelines.

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

      Blah blah blah