Sir Alex Ferguson took 27 years to ‘knock Liverpool off their f***ing perch’… Slot could undo that in his first season
SIR ALEX FERGUSON famously claimed his biggest challenge as Manchester United manager was “knocking Liverpool off their f****** perch”.
When the great Scot left Old Trafford after clinching one last Premier League title in 2013, it was mission f****** accomplished.
Legendary Man Utd manager Sir Alex Ferguson took pride in ‘knocking Liverpool off their perch’[/caption]
However, the Red Devils are now far from the threatening club they once were[/caption]
But what Fergie achieved during the course of a glorious 27-year reign, new Kop manager Arne Slot is threatening to undo in his debut season.
The crown United won 12 years ago was their 20th, putting them two clear of Liverpool at the top of the list of English champions.
Jurgen Klopp brought the Merseysiders back to within one of United by clinching the crown in 2019-20.
So if Slot can convert his team’s current lead at the top of the table into a trophy lift in May, he will put them level with their North-West rivals.
And given Liverpool’s superior European Cup and Champions League record — with six wins to United’s three — the Anfield faithful would once more have the numbers to back their claim to be England’s greatest club.
The one crumb of comfort for United fans in recent years is the other lot down the M62 have failed to take advantage of United’s decline in the same way Fergie filled his boots during Liverpool’s barren years.
Many Reds supporters would argue their team fell off that perch rather than being pushed by United.
Poor recruitment and a failure to exploit the commercial opportunities of the Premier League breakaway cost the Kop dear as much as United’s quality under Fergie.
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Arne Slot has carried Liverpool to the top of the Prem table in his first season[/caption]
In between Kenny Dalglish’s third and final league title as Liverpool boss in 1990 and Klopp’s victory 30 years later, Ferguson and United were champions 13 times.
After Klopp announced his decision to leave Anfield last January — and his second bid for a Quadruple fell even flatter than the first — United supporters probably breathed a sigh of relief.
They have seen just how hard it is to replace an iconic manager and to compete with those other noisy neighbours, Manchester City.
But Slot has come in to Anfield — and, rather than picking up where Klopp left off, has coaxed new levels from a group of players who looked spent when finishing third in last season’s three-way title race.
So the United faithful will travel to Anfield for Sunday’s game fearing not only another hiding on the day but also a more long-lasting kick in the guts at the end of the season.
The Red Devils’ recent Premier League record against Liverpool is humiliating, with just one win in the last eight meetings and six goals scored compared to the Reds’ 26.
Losing to your fiercest rivals is bad enough, but the manner of the defeats has often been shocking.
In the 2021-22 season, Klopp’s Reds won 5-0 at Old Trafford and then 4-0 at home. But United’s real nadir came at Anfield on March 5, 2023 when Liverpool scored seven without reply.
So the United faithful will travel to Anfield for Sunday’s game fearing not only another hiding on the day but also a more long-lasting kick in the guts at the end of the season.
It was not only the biggest margin of victory in a rivalry dating back to 1894, it also equalled the worst defeat of United’s entire history.
Yet most Liverpool supporters would swap a one-off thrashing like that for another championship.
And despite their team’s apparent superiority right now, there will be a small voice of caution in the back of the mind of all but the most optimistic fans.
Because failing to beat United damaged title bids led by Klopp more than once.
United have suffered some embarrassing defeats against Liverpool in recent years[/caption]
In February 2019, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side held Liverpool to a 0-0 draw at Anfield. The Reds finished one agonising point behind City at the end of the season.
And Erik ten Hag’s United drew both league games against Klopp’s side last season.
Had Liverpool beaten United at Old Trafford on April 7, they would have been level on points with City and two ahead of Arsenal with six games to go.
But after Mo Salah’s late penalty salvaged a 2-2 draw, Liverpool lost at home to Crystal Palace the following weekend and watched another title chance slip away.
Losing to your fiercest rivals is bad enough, but the manner of the defeats has often been shocking.
There is further encouragement for United fans that their team can still lift themselves when playing Liverpool and form can go out the window in this fiercely-contested derby.
Bruno Fernandes grabbed the winner in a 3-2 FA Cup fourth round victory in January 2021.
And most memorably last March, United came from behind twice to beat Liverpool 4-3 in the sixth round and went on to lift the trophy.
The hero of that Old Trafford victory was Amad Diallo, with a dramatic winner in stoppage-time at the end of extra-time. Or, to put it another way, in Fergie time.
How the United fans would love another shock win for new boss Ruben Amorim’s side on Sunday.
And recapture hope their club can remain alone on the title-winning perch where Ferguson left them.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s first year at Man Utd
SIR JIM RATCLIFFE’S minority takeover at Manchester United was announced on Christmas Eve in 2023 – and a lot has happened at Old Trafford since…
December 2023 – Man Utd confirm Ratcliffe’s takeover on Christmas Eve, vowing to invest £245m into Old Trafford
January 2024 – Ratcliffe and right-hand man Sir Dave Brailsford photographed meeting Erik ten Hag during tour of Carrington
January 2024 – Omar Berrada poached from Man City as new CEO
February 2024 – Ratcliffe’s £1billion, 27.7 per cent takeover officially completed
February 2024 – Former CEO Richard Arnold quits board as Ineos pair John Rees and Rob Nevin added
March 2024 – Ratcliffe bans words “awesome” and “lukewarm cappuccino” in bizarre move
March 2024 – Matt Johnson appointed head of women’s football
March 2024 – Ratcliffe announces plans to build “Wembley of the North” to replace Old Trafford
March 2024 – Man Utd NYSE share price drops to $13.73 on March 21 – down from $20.52 immediately after Ratcliffe takeover in December
April 2024 – Senior staff club credit cards and private cars cancelled
April 2024 – John Murtough quits as football director
April 2024 – Jason Wilcox appointed technical director after compensation package agreed with Southampton
May 2024 – Ratcliffe turns Carrington “toxic” after sending email to employees slamming “disgraceful” lack of cleanliness
May 2024 – Work finally starts on leaking Old Trafford roof
May 2024 – Man Utd finish eighth in Premier League, worst-ever finish
May 2024 – Ratcliffe gives employees just one week to decide if they want to accept redundancy
May 2024 – Staff forced to pay for own transport to FA Cup final and only given one ticket
May 2024 – Pre-match party and hotel for senior staff before FA Cup final axed
May 2024 – Man Utd shock rivals Man City to win FA Cup despite suggestions Erik ten Hag will be sacked regardless of result
June 2024 – Man Utd announce £50m plans to upgrade Carrington training ground
June 2024 – Ratcliffe introduces strict “back to work” policy forcing staff to come into office
June 2024 – Ratcliffe scores own goal with comments about women’s team
July 2024 – Man Utd finally agree deal to bring in Dan Ashworth as sporting director after four months of gardening leave at Newcastle, who received £3m in compensation
July 2024 – Erik ten Hag signs shock new contract extension until 2026
July 2024 – Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake appointed assistant managers, Andreas Georgson first-team coach and Jelle ten Rouwelaar goalkeeper coach. Darren Fletcher’s role changes from technical director to first-team coach. Steve McClaren, Mitchell van der Gaag and Benni McCarthy depart.
July 2024 – Ex-Chelsea technical director Christopher Vivell joins on short-term basis as interim director of recruitment
July 2024 – Jean-Claude Blanc added to Man Utd board
July 2024 – Man Utd cut down number of staff on US pre-season tour to 125
July 2024 – Ratcliffe makes 250 redundancies including popular media man John Allen, historian Cliff Butler and kitman Alex Wylie
August 2024 – Man Utd splash out £199m in the summer transfer window
August 2024 – Matchday staff lunchboxes scrapped and some forced to eat beside toilet
October 2024 – Man Utd stop paying £2m-a-year ambassador salary to Sir Alex Ferguson
October 2024 – Staff Christmas party cancelled
October 2024 – “Back to work” policy costing Utd fortune to convert hospitality suites into temporary offices between home matches
October 2024 – Erik ten Hag sacked with club 14th in Premier League table, costing club £15m
November 2024 – Ruben Amorim appointed new Man Utd manager on deal until 2027 after stumping up £10m release clause
November 2024 – Coach Ruud van Nistelrooy axed by new manager Ruben Amorim
November 2024 – Man Utd chiefs locked in blame game over summer shambles including Erik ten Hag situation and transfer signings
November 2024 – Ratcliffe reportedly set to half £40,000 budget paid to Manchester United Disabled Supporters Association
December 2024 – Ratcliffe admits “mediocre” Man Utd “still in last century”
December 2024 – Fans protest after OAP and children concessions tickets ditched and minimum home ticket cost up to £66
December 2024 – Dan Ashworth sacked after five months as sporting director
December 2024 – £100 staff Christmas bonus ditched for £40 M&S voucher
December 2024 – Ceiling starts leaking during Ruben Amorim’s press conference after 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth
December 2024 – Reports of a mice infestation at Old Trafford as rodent droppings found in food kiosks and plush suites as food hygiene ratings drops to just two stars
December 2024 – SunSport reveals Ratcliffe cuts £40,000 funding donation to Association of Former Manchester United Players charity
