United In Focus catches up with Managing Editor of Rousing The Kop, James Brooke, ahead of Manchester United vs Liverpool.
A win for Manchester United would not only guarantee Champions League football for next season, but it would also increase the team’s chances of finishing third in the Premier League.
United are currently three points clear of Liverpool and Aston Villa in the race for a spot in Europe’s most prestigious tournament.
Liverpool go into the game after back-to-back wins over Everton and Crystal Palace.
How confident are you ahead of Man Utd vs Liverpool this weekend?
A win will seal Champions League qualification…
Liverpool fan expects defeat at Old Trafford
Ahead of the game, I caught up with James Brook from Rousing The Kop, a Liverpool-focused outlet.
United will be eager to clinch Champions League qualification and put a dent in Liverpool’s hopes of doing the same, with victory over the arch rivals.
To give us some perspective from the opposition, James answered the following questions.
From winning the title to fighting for a place in the top five to secure Champions League qualification. Why has this season been such a fall from grace for Arne Slot?
James: “If you find out, then let me know! People have plenty of differing views on this, but in my opinion, it is a case of Liverpool tinkering too much with a winning formula.
“Individually, there was a case to be made for selling each of the players who left last summer, but from Luis Diaz to Trent Alexander-Arnold via Darwin Nunez, Liverpool just robbed themselves of far too many of the ingredients which made them so good last year.
“The tragedy of Diogo Jota can’t and shouldn’t be ignored, and the impact on the individuals and the group as a whole has clearly been massive.
“Next season will answer the question of whether Arne Slot is part of the problem as well, with many deciding he is out of his depth. In my opinion, Liverpool lost too much pace, especially, and while long-term injuries to key players haven’t helped, the gamble of building around Florian Wirtz and hoping he would settle immediately ultimately just hasn’t paid off either.”
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 |  ArsenalArsenal | 34 | 22 | 7 | 5 | 64 | 26 | 38 | 73 |
| 2 |  Manchester CityManchester City | 33 | 21 | 7 | 5 | 66 | 29 | 37 | 70 |
| 3 |  Manchester UnitedManchester United | 34 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 60 | 46 | 14 | 61 |
| 4 |  LiverpoolLiverpool | 34 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 57 | 44 | 13 | 58 |
| 5 |  Aston VillaAston Villa | 34 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 47 | 42 | 5 | 58 |
| 6 |  BrightonBrighton | 34 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 48 | 39 | 9 | 50 |
Sack or back Slot next season?
James: “All the current noises are that Slot will be given next season – or at least the beginning of it – to show that he can turn things around.
“Should he stay, and it seems very likely that he will, he has a lot of work to do to win fans over once again. It is currently a struggle to find any fans in favour of the Dutchman staying, and if things start in a similar vein next season, it is hard to see how he survives.
“Plenty have become sick of what they see as boring and risk-averse football, especially having become so used to the vibrancy of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool. He will be given another chance, but patience amongst the fanbase is already at breaking point.
“Personally, I think things have hit such lows, and the football has been so diabolical, that he should go. But that looks like it will not happen.”
Which player have you been most disappointed with this season?
James: “Clearly, Mohamed Salah is the most obvious one here, but I think there was always a feeling that a drop-off for the Egyptian would eventually arrive. That it comes after such an amazing individual campaign has been frustrating, but he was never going to go on forever.
“Instead, some of his younger teammates really need to take a look in the mirror. Alexis Mac Allister has been one of the most glaring, having gone from being a PFA Player of the Year candidate to looking like he’d struggle to keep up with the pace in a charity match. A mention for Wirtz as well, who, despite some flashes of potential, just hasn’t done enough to justify his price tag.
“Liverpool have badly needed him to take charge of games at times this season and he has gone missing.”
Will you be sorry to see Mohamed Salah go?
James: “Absolutely! It has been a difficult season for Mo, and at times it has genuinely been painful to watch him play, but he is an undisputed legend of the club and has been such a consistent source of goals and big moments.
“His exit, along with Andy Robertson and potentially Alisson, makes it feel like the curtain has well and truly come down on the Klopp era.
“Inflicting pain on United has been his favourite thing to do as a Liverpool player, and it is a real shame that he won’t get one last chance to do it again. There won’t be another like Salah at Liverpool for a very, very long time.”
If Florian Wirtz is a £116 million player – how much is Bruno Fernandes worth?!
It turns out Manchester United fans are not alone in feeling the pinch with increased ticket prices. Do you agree with the thousands of Liverpool fans, who, in protest, fear that Anfield’s ‘soul’ is at risk due to the club’s owners?
James: “100 per cent. The continued price rises are alienating supporters who have become increasingly disillusioned with being treated as a potential payday for the owners instead of as the valuable asset that they are.
“The increase is unlikely to stop here and will lead to fans who have been going to Anfield for years, those who create the songs, the atmosphere and the traditions, to stop going. FSG will have no problem finding people to fill their spots, but it will increasingly mean that Anfield is full of people who are potentially visiting as a tourist attraction and have no connection to the club at all.
“Nobody is saying that these visitors do not have their place, but Anfield will then simply become just another ground. FSG use the famous Anfield atmosphere as a big way of selling the club around the world, and that is something which Liverpool fans are rightly proud of, but it should not be taken for granted. It isn’t right, and the message has now been delivered loud and clear.
“FSG have shown that they will listen in the past, but there has been no concession so far.”
Ahead of Sunday’s game, does the return of Alexander Isak cushion the blow of being without Hugo Ekitike and Salah?
James: “Definitely. It has been a nightmare first season for Isak, but he has looked sharp in moments, with his finish against Palace last weekend a timely reminder of his quality.
“The main problem has been getting the players around him on the same wavelength, but if they can get him the ball in the United area, I’d still back him to score. It will be interesting to see what kind of attacking line-up Slot goes for, but whatever happens, Isak has to be in there. He can still end the season strongly and with the confidence his goal should have given him, United will have to watch him closely.”
What is Liverpool’s biggest weakness going into the game?
James: “Where do you start! We have numerous issues, one of the biggest being the lack of a discernible tactical approach.
“It often looks as though the players are just muddling through matches. But for me, the main problem has been how easy it is to play through the middle of the pitch against us. It can sometimes take just one pass to take out our whole midfield, and all of a sudden, the opposition are running straight at our defence. You can get away with that once or twice, but Liverpool never seem to learn and keep leaving the door open again and again during matches.
“Pace is also one of the things which this team is desperately missing. Add it all together, and it has felt as though we have been the easiest team to play against in the Premier League this year.”
Which United player, if any, do you fear the most going into the game?
James: “Fernandes could definitely exploit the gaps in the Liverpool midfield, and he is always a worry for any team facing United.
“Having said that, he hasn’t always turned up against us, so I’m more concerned about both Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha. Both have caused Liverpool real problems in the past, especially Cunha, who is one of the few players who always seems to leave Virgil van Dijk scrambling. If Liverpool are not at it, both he and Mbeumo could enjoy themselves.”
Bruno Fernandes gets another assist – the record is almost his!
Do you think he could get two in the next game vs Liverpool?!
Finally, tell us how the game will go on Sunday?
“Such a hard one to predict. We’ve picked up recently with three wins on the bounce, but we haven’t always been convincing, and though I haven’t watched them much, I get the sense it’s a similar story with United.
“Heart says we’ll get something, especially after the players showed some character to win away at Everton, but head says it will be another painful moment in a season which can’t end soon enough. It hurts to say, but I think United will win this, 2-1.”
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
