13 March 2024 , 11:52
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Liverpool loom large for Erik ten Hag and his future as Manchester United boss.
United face them at Old Trafford in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday and then entertain them again in the Premier League three weeks later in two huge clashes for both clubs.
The stakes are high for ten Hag and he has the chance to end Liverpool’s quadruple hopes on Sunday and then put a size nine into their title hopes.
Winning both games would seriously improve his chances of hanging on as United boss beyond the summer and he would be at Wembley in the FA Cup and closer to that Champions League spot, which will ultimately decide his fate.
History is on ten Hag’s side and United have not lost an FA Cup tie to their fiercest rivals at Old Trafford since 1921. United have a fine record at home to Liverpool and they have lost only three of their last 16 matches. That run includes a 0-0 draw in February 2019, which ultimately cost Liverpool the title in their epic struggle with Manchester City and the Reds finished on 97 points, one short of glory.
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Ten Hag won on the only occasion he has faced Liverpool at Old Trafford in August 2022 and that victory kickstarted his United reign. United won the Carabao Cup, finished third and reached the FA Cup Final for a very successful first season. This season has been a car crash by comparison and their Champions League campaign was feeble.
But Liverpool are an opportunity to change the narrative. Victory on Sunday in the FA Cup would be sweet and would go some way to placating the fans. Victory three weeks later in the Premier League would really boost ten Hag’s chances of claiming a Champions League spot and surviving beyond this summer.
That is the bottom line spelt out to the Dutchman in his meetings with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his right-hand man Sir Dave Brailsford. He must deliver Champions League football again if he is to carry on as manager.
Ten Hag has shown he can get results against Liverpool and he partially atoned for United’s 7-0 mauling at Anfield a year ago by drawing 0-0 there and becoming the only side to stop Jurgen Klopp’s team from scoring this season.
Of course, ten Hag may end up cheering on Liverpool and City in Europe and United’s biggest rivals would boost the Premier League’s hopes of gaining a fifth Champions League place if they triumphed.
Ten Hag must split Aston Villa and Tottenham to get fifth, but that should be enough if City retain the Champions League at Wembley and Liverpool lift the Europa League in Dublin. That is an unpalatable thought for United, but one they may have to swallow if they are to qualify for the Champions League.
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