Steve McManaman has admitted he would be 'surprised' if Liverpool won at Old Trafford in the manner they did last season. The Reds beat Manchester United 5-0 on their own turf late in October and the two come to blows on Monday night.
The former Liverpool and Real Madrid wide man believes United will change their approach when they take on Jurgen Klopp 's side on Monday night after losing 4-0 to Brentford on Saturday. McManaman touched on how he expects United to be a lot 'tighter' with their play.
United's fans plan on a protest when they take on Liverpool and, if they are to get up and leave Old Trafford during the match, then the former Reds player believes this will only help Klopp's side.
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The Champions League winner told Horseracing.net : "I wouldn’t have thought that it would be another pasting. The way Manchester City have played means that Liverpool just have to win. Arsenal have six points, Chelsea and Tottenham have four, so Liverpool just need the victory. I’d be surprised if Liverpool won at Old Trafford in the fashion they did last season because United are going to have to have a plan that can curtail the way that Liverpool play, stop them playing, then see if they can get a result.
"They can’t play like they have done the last two games. They’ve been so open and if they play like that against Liverpool then they are in trouble. I fully expect them to change it around and become a lot tighter. They may go into the fixture playing like an away team and just hoping they can nick a goal somewhere. They can’t be as expansive as they have been, they just can’t.”
Any protest where fans leave the stadium will only help Liverpool in the match, according to McManaman: “If you’re Liverpool, then playing in front of an empty crowd is a lot easier. I don’t think Liverpool will be too bothered as last season was incredibly raucous.
"In fact, it’s always raucous in these fixtures at Old Trafford as there’s genuine hatred between both clubs. If people start standing up and leaving or don’t even turn up to the game, then it will make it far easier for Liverpool players as the away support will be completely full as it was last year. If United have any chance then they will need the atmosphere to be raucous. That talk of fans being the twelfth man is certainly a thing that exists.”
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