May 14 – Manchester United fans renewed their protests against club owners the Glazer family, with hundreds of supporters gathering outside Old Trafford on Thursday ahead of the team’s 4-2 defeat to Liverpool, which was postponed from two weeks ago when fans stormed Old Trafford.
Yesterday hundreds of Man Utd fans gathered again to voice their protest. Supporters also tried to block Liverpool’s coach from reaching the stadium, with an attempt to deflate the tyres and block roads near the Liverpool hotel. Liverpool used replacement coaches and a back gate to enter Old Trafford.
“We are aware of a protest currently taking place outside Old Trafford football stadium, with a small number of people seemingly intent on disrupting the fixture,” said a statement from Greater Manchester police. “Officers are in attendance to maintain safety while facilitating the right to peaceful protest.”
Two people were reportedly arrested.
Man Utd players, in anticipation of the fan disruption, had entered the ground much earlier in the day where beds had been set up as they waited out the time before the evening kick off.
Earlier this week, United’s home game against Leicester City went ahead without incident after a heavy police and security presence outside the stadium. Police had erected a “ring of steel” and barriers around the Old Trafford venue to ensure fans would not disrupt the match.
The club owners, the Glazers, have been the subject of a storm of protest from the Manchester United fanbase after the club’s role in the European Super League debacle. The Old Trafford outfit was one of six English clubs who wanted to breakaway from the established structures of European football to set up a lucrative closed-shop competition, but those plans were met by a tsunami of discontent and disintegrated quickly.
Liverpool’s win puts them back into contention for a Champions League qualification place. They are now four points behind fourth-placed Chelsea with a game in hand.
Liverpool’s remaining fixtures see them face three sides with nothing to play for. They are away to already relegated West Brom, before travelling to Burnley and then hosting Crystal Palace in their final game on May 23.
Chelsea and Leicester – two sides above Liverpool – still have to play each other.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1735103862labto1735103862ofdlr1735103862owedi1735103862sni@o1735103862fni1735103862