In 1986, when Ferguson became the manager of Manchester United, he once boasted, "One day, I will definitely push Liverpool off their damn throne!" At that time, Manchester United had won 7 top-flight league titles, while Liverpool had 16; Manchester United had won 1 UEFA Champions League title, while Liverpool had 4. By 1990, Liverpool's top-flight league titles had reached 18, while Manchester United remained at 7.
In 2011, Ferguson achieved his goal, leading Manchester United to win their 19th English top-flight league title, surpassing Liverpool. Before retiring in 2013, Ferguson led Manchester United to win the top-flight league title 20 times, which was not excessive but rather significant. In 2020, Klopp led Liverpool to win their first Premier League trophy, and Liverpool found that they still had one less top-flight league title than Manchester United.
When Ferguson retired, he certainly did not expect that the legacy he had accumulated through half a lifetime of effort would be squandered by his successors in just over a decade.
In the 2024-25 Premier League season, Liverpool, the arch-rival of Manchester United, has been leading for a long time, with a six-point lead after half the season and one game fewer played. Sloot's team is currently the biggest favorite to win the Premier League title. If they can maintain their lead until the end, they will have 20 top-flight league titles, equaling Manchester United. Who will be knocked off the throne?
Manchester United is seven points above the relegation zone at the halfway point of the season. Given their current losing streak, it may only be a matter of time before they fall into the relegation zone. This is something Sir Alex Ferguson could never have imagined: the first relegation in 51 years...
In the ninth round of the Premier League this season, Manchester United lost 1-2 away to West Ham United, with 3 wins, 2 draws, and 4 losses in 9 games, resulting in Ten Hag's dismissal. Assistant coach Van Nistelrooy took over as interim head coach and remained unbeaten in four games with three wins and one draw. Amorim arrived, but with two wins, one draw, and five losses in eight league games, this record is even worse than Ten Hag's.
The first battle of the new year, the upcoming "Double Reds," sees a Manchester United team on a losing streak and close to the relegation zone playing away against a Liverpool team on a winning streak and firmly in the lead. There is no hope of getting points. However, Amorim's team should at least set themselves a small goal: to score one goal! Otherwise, a humiliating record of 116 years will be born under Amorim's watch.
Liverpool vs. Manchester United
Competition: Premier League Round 20
Match Time: January 6, 0:30
The "Double Reds" have always put immense pressure on Manchester United managers, sometimes even being a matter of life and death.
In the 17th round of the 2018-19 Premier League Double Reds, Mourinho's Manchester United lost 1-3 away to Liverpool, resulting in Mourinho's dismissal. Now, even if Amorim loses to Liverpool, he will not be sacked.
After the first half of the 2024-25 Premier League season, Liverpool has 45 points from 18 games with 14 wins, 3 draws, and 1 loss, ranking first and six points ahead of second-placed Arsenal with one game fewer played. Manchester United has 22 points from 19 games with 6 wins, 4 draws, and 9 losses, ranking 14th and seven points above the relegation zone's Ipswich.
Liverpool has remained unbeaten in their last 10 matches across all competitions with 8 wins and 2 draws.
Manchester United has 4 wins and 6 losses in their last 10 matches across all competitions. After winning the Manchester Derby 2-1 away against reigning champions Manchester City in the Premier League, they have recently suffered three consecutive defeats without scoring a single goal.
If Manchester United loses away to Liverpool in this round and fails to score, it will be four consecutive defeats without a goal. Since the construction of Old Trafford Stadium in 1909, Manchester United has never suffered four consecutive defeats without scoring a goal.
Looking ahead to the upcoming Double Reds, English legend Joe Cole believes Liverpool will beat Manchester United 2-1. This prediction is relatively objective. Liverpool's current combat power far exceeds Manchester United, but their defense is not that stable. They have conceded goals in four out of their last five matches across all competitions, only keeping a clean sheet in the last round of the Premier League with a 5-0 away victory over West Ham United.
In this match, Manchester United cannot win, but there is still hope for them to score a goal.