It is far too early in the season to start talking about ‘six-pointers’ and ‘must-win games’. Isn’t it? Well, maybe fans of Liverpool and Manchester United would have agreed with that before the season.
But two games into the campaign, the historic rivals face off at Old Trafford on Monday with United rock bottom of the table after being comfortably beaten 2-1 by Brighton and thrashed 4-0 by Brentford.
And Liverpool haven’t started much better, lying 12th in the league – below promoted sides Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest and level on points with Fulham, after successive draws against the Cottagers and Crystal Palace.
The pressure is mounting on new United manager Erik ten Hag, who has his star player desperate to leave, a massive struggle to sign new players, and fan unrest with planned protests amid uncertainty over the ownership situation at the club.
While Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has taken to blaming dry pitches after sneaking a draw against promoted Fulham and now has an injury crisis, a seemingly creaking midfield and a big summer signing suspended after a red card.
The glimmer of hope given by Manchester City’s dropped points at Newcastle will add fuel to the fire for the Reds. So who needs the result more? Below, Sportsmail takes a look…
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool (left) and Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United (right) clash on Monday
New Red Devils boss Ten Hag (pictured) is under pressure, with his side bottom of the table
Klopp, meanwhile, has seen his side drop points in both their first two matches of the season
Man United: Pressure mounting on Erik ten Hag
If Erik ten Hag was unaware of the scrutiny being Manchester United manager provides, he was quickly disabused of that notion.
Two games, two defeats, six goals conceded and one goal scored (and a lucky own goal at that), do not make for pretty reading for the new boss.
Most fans and pundits recognise the mess at United is not of Ten Hag’s doing, and many structural problems have been deeply entrenched since legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
Ten Hag needs time and patience. But time and patience are gifts rarely afforded to Premier League managers, especially of the stature of Manchester United. Defeat vs Liverpool could keep the club bottom of the table, with confidence on the floor.
The next four games are: Southampton at home, Leicester away, Arsenal at home, Crystal Palace away. The way they’re playing, they might take four or five points from…