MANCHESTER UNITED have not gone into a game in recent memory with so much fear about the outcome.
Despite the positivity drummed out by under-fire boss Erik ten Hag, you cannot get away from the fact that it could be a humiliation at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.
GettyMan Utd chief Erik ten Hag is defiant about his side’s chances[/caption]
AFPLiverpool hail Trent Alexander-Arnold after his opener in the 7-0 win[/caption]
SunSport revealed this week that former Chelsea boss Graham Potter is favoured by incoming investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe to replace the Dutchman if results do not pick up.
Starting with a trip to Anfield, and a return to one of the darkest of days.
It was last season as the Red Devils had a hellish afternoon, going down 7-0 in Liverpool.
But that was far from expected, having just won the Carabao Cup by beating Newcastle at Wembley and recording a convincing 3-1 home win against West Ham in the FA Cup on their way to another domestic final.
They were 11 games unbeaten and would finish third in the league.
The mood is like chalk and cheese from those days in March.
United have rarely, if ever, gone into this fixture against their bitterest rivals at such long odds to win — 15-2 with one bookie, while Liverpool are 1-4.
It is one for United fans to watch from behind the sofa.
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You had to double check exactly who Ten Hag was talking about as he described a team travelling to this fixture.
The Dutchman said: “We can go head to head with them and that is our challenge for Sunday.
“We will put out a team who can challenge, a team that is confident to win that game.”
There is no Harry Maguire, who has been United’s most consistent performer of late.
Raphael Varane will start again, given he does not stub his toe or pick up a cold on Saturday, alongside Jonny Evans in defence.
Luke Shaw could captain the side because Bruno Fernandes is suspended following a late booking in the 3-0 loss to Bournemouth.
At right-back, the boss cannot make his mind up — but it has to be Aaron Wan-Bissaka on Sunday.
Scott McTominay will move into a No 10 role, with the ineffective Marcus Rashford back on the left and one-trick pony Antony on the right.
Then, up front, Rasmus Hojlund, who has not got a goal yet in the Prem.
In front of the back four, Kobbie Mainoo, 18, will be asked to belie his years to put on a huge display alongside Sofyan Amrabat, a shadow of the player we saw in the World Cup for Morocco.
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In goal, there is Andre Onana, who has United fans wincing when there is any shot on target.
So good luck.
Ten Hag is a good man, who did a great job last term and remains at pains to convince everyone things are STILL going in the right direction.
He said: “I want to progress with my team in the right direction so we are here in a project.
“Last season, we were absolutely in the right direction. We haven’t managed the standards we expect to have and we have a setback.
“But we still can win this season and in the longer term.
“The future for Man United is very good, if you see how many good players we have in the squad, how many good young players we have.”
The words are good — but they are starting to fall on deaf ears.