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United keeping their plans secret in order to prevent anti-Glazer protests before Liverpool game
Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 13.05.21. | 10:22
Players are sworn to secrecy over their preparations
Top secret operation „Code Reds“ is under way in Manchester. The postponed Man United – Liverpool match is scheduled for tonight and the Red Devil’s brass don’t want the same scenes again. The first attempt to play the game failed miserably when United fans decided to organize a protest against the US owners, the Glazer brothers which turned to pitch invasion, effectively ending the game before even started.
This time, United’s hierarchy won’t let that happen and have taken a top-secret approach for tonight’s game. Players are sworn to secrecy over their preparations and staff has been given information on a need-to-know basis to avoid leaks and limit the security threat. United are constantly changing their plan, almost in the last minute, due to fears of another anti-Glazer protests, and they did it twice already.
Just before the Europa League semi final against Roma, news spread out that the fans will try to sabotage the team bus on it’s way to the Manchester Airport so the departure time and the rout to the Airport has been changed. And before the Leicester game on Tuesday, players stayed at home until they were told to go to the training ground before travelling to the stadium.
And of course, the schedule for the Liverpool match will surely be changed again, as tight security to prevent further disturbances is expected. A 3 meter wall was built and steel barriers were installed to protect the most vulnerable areas of Old Trafford, including the corner of the stadium where fans twice broke in and got on to the pitch. The number of stewards has increased from 15 to 50 since the protests.
The rescheduling of the Liverpool match meant that United were forced to play four times in eight days and coach Solskjaer was less that happy about it. He fielded the almost second team in a defeat to Leicester, which prompted some pundits to ask for Manchester to be deducted of six points.
And the Chelsea defeat last night against Arsenal left the door slightly open for Liverpool to „sneak“ into the top four and the Champions League spot, if they win all of their remaining matches, including great rivals Manchester tonight.
PREMIER LEAGUE
Tuesday
Manchester United - Leicester City 1-2 (1-1)
/Greenwood 15 - Thomas 10, Soyuncu 66/
Wednesday
Chelsea - Arsenal 0-1(0-1)
/Smith-Rowe 16/
Thursday
20.00: Aston Villa - Everton
Friday
22:00 Newcastle United - Manchester City
Saturday
14:30 Burnley - Leeds United
17:00 Southampton - Fulham
22:00 Brighton & Hove Albion - West Ham United
Sunday
14:00 Crystal Palace - Aston Villa
16:05 Tottenham - Wolverhampton
18:30 West Bromwich Albion - Liverpool
21:00 Everton - Sheffield United









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