Manchester United go into this weekend’s crunch Premier League clash with Liverpool riding the crest of a wave and still searching for trophies on four fronts.
Erik ten Hag's side lifted the Carabao Cup last week and secured FA Cup progress in midweek. They remain in the Europa League and can lay claim to having title ambitions despite being 14 points behind leaders Arsenal, albeit with two games in hand. The visit to Merseyside represents the chance to end a winless league run at Anfield dating back to 2016.
Liverpool are down in sixth, with their top four chances in the balance, while a 5-2 home reverse to Real Madrid means their Champions League aspirations are in tatters. And former United midfielder Nicky Butt believes the Old Trafford club have moved ahead of Liverpool on the pitch given the problems Jurgen Klopp is facing with poor form and an ageing midfield chief among them.
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“United have gone past Liverpool football-wise," he said, speaking to BBC Sport. “Liverpool have a big job on their hands in the summer with recruitment. Their midfield looks ageing. Their best players aren't performing and don't look the same.
“Jurgen Klopp is great and I think he will get the right players in, so they could come back next season but United have overtaken them on the pitch, which is great credit to Ten Hag. He seems to have it all sorted out. He knows what he wants and has the respect of people above him to let him make decisions. They could even go in the back door and win the league because City are hiccupping every two minutes and while I actually think Arsenal will last the distance, they could slip off.
“But I wouldn't say United are back. Not a chance. If you look at the fundamentals of the club, United are behind Liverpool. The recruitment team has a big job on its hands to get to the next level. Being fourth is not Manchester United. I remember we used to finish second and were told if it happened again the next season we would be sold. Sold! You can say it's the old days but that was the mentality of the club back then. if you were going to finish second you may as well finish seventh."
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