Several Manchester United players arrived at Old Trafford more than six hours before kick-off against Liverpool as the club looks to avoid a repeat of the scenes from 11 days ago, when the match was called off following mass protests at the stadium and outside United's hotel.
United's staff and players usually report to The Lowry Hotel before home games, but players drove themselves to the stadium on Thursday afternoon.
The MEN understands United's two team coaches did dummy runs to the Lowry in an apparent bid to throw off protesters, who continue to campaign against the Glazer family's ownership of the club.
Mason Greenwood, Edinson Cavani and Bruno Fernandes are among the players who were pictured arriving at Old Trafford ahead of the biggest fixture in English football.
Speaking ahead of Tuesday's loss to Leicester, United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer urged supporters to let the game against Liverpool go ahead as planned.
“Security measures are being looked at, of course, and I hope that we can keep the protests - if there are protests - down to loud voices, nothing violent,” the Norwegian said. “We want to listen. The players want to play the game.
“We play Liverpool. Of course we want to beat Liverpool... So, we’re going to do everything we can for our fans to celebrate what we’re doing on the pitch.”
A win for United will all but end Liverpool's hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League, with Jurgen Klopp's side currently seven points off a top-four spot after their form nosedived in 2021.
