Man United fans are protesting ahead of kick off against Liverpool
Manchester United fans march on Old Trafford in protest against the Glazers’ ownership ahead of Premier League clash with Liverpool… after team meeting at The Lowry was cancelled due to security fears
- Manchester United fans are staging a mass protest ahead of the Liverpool game
- United host Liverpool at Old Trafford on Monday with thousands set to protest
- The pre-planned protest is aimed at United’s American owners the Glazer family
- Supporters are set to march to the ground prior to kick off at 8pm
Manchester United fans are protesting ahead of Monday evening’s game at Old Trafford against Liverpool, with thousands of fans planning to march on the stadium before kick off.
The major protest is against the Glazer family’s ownership of the club with the American’s blamed for overseeing year’s of mismanagement, poor recruitment, and lack of investment.
Man United supporters group The 1958 have arranged the mass event and have urged supporters to congregate at the Tollgate pub near Old Trafford at 7pm with plans made to then march down to the ground prior to kick off at 8pm.
Manchester United supporters are marching on Old Trafford prior to kick off against Liverpool
Thousands of disgruntled Manchester United protesters have gathered a pub near the stadium
Some flags and banners have been erected nearby Old Trafford ahead of a march at 7pm
United staff made the decision earlier today to cancel their usual pre-match meeting at the Lowry hotel amid safety fears regarding the organised protests.
Videos emerging from the Tollgate pub meeting point show fans gathering en masse, with some targeting the Liverpool players coach arriving at the ground with plastic cups and other projectiles.
Chants directed towards the Glazer ownership have also been shared on social media as disgruntled supporters try to force a takeover amid interest from Britain’s richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
There is a heavy police presence at the Tollgate pub where United protesters are meeting
Ratcliffe previously announced his intentions earlier in August to purchase the 13-time Premier League champions with a statement from an Ineos spokesperson telling The Times: ‘If the club is for sale, Jim is definitely a potential buyer.’
Former United captain Roy Keane has also backed calls for a change in ownership at his previous club with the Irishman speaking pre-match to Sky Sports Monday Night Football saying:
‘A lot of people are saying Manchester United fans aren’t happy with the owners because they haven’t won many trophies in recent years, but they weren’t happy with the Glazer family since day one.
‘It’s been ongoing and there doesn’t seem to be an end to it. The fans are frustrated.’
British businessman Michael Knighton is at the protest against the Glazer family
Thousands of fans have already congregated prior to kick off with many supporters preparing to miss the match as they seek to get their message heard at the televised fixture with the hashtag #GlazersOut being used by those in attendance.
There is a heavy police presence at both the Tollgate pub and Old Trafford itself with measures but in place to stop fans from disrupting the match between Erik Ten Hag’s Reds and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.
Some vendors outside Old Trafford have been selling #GlazersOut merchandise
British businessman Michael Knighton – most famous for his failed takeover of the club in 1989 – is also in attendance for the emotionally-charged protest. Knighton has recently been the face of a new ‘hostile’ takeover with the 70-year-old insisting that he has a consortium ready to launch a formal bid for ownership.
United and Liverpool are both winless from their opening league fixtures with both side’s needing a victory to kick start their Premier League campaign. Three points for the hosts would see them leapfrog last season’s Champions League finalists in the league standings.
The Glazer family have taken millions out of United since their takeover in 2005 and have allowed debts to rise during their time in charge, with an increase off 11.5% since last year as debts accumulate at almost £500million.
United supporters previously protested at the same fixture in May 2021, with their efforts on that occasion seeing tempers boil over as some fans stormed the stadium and got onto the pitch, with the game cancelled before teams had even arrived.
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