Former Manchester United and Liverpool striker Michael Owen believes Erik ten Hag’s struggling team will be relieved if they escape Sunday’s trip to Anfield with a 2-0 defeat.
The Red Devils have endured a miserable season to date, sitting six points adrift of the Premier League’s top four and finishing bottom of their UEFA Champions League group.
United were heavily criticised for their performance against Bayern Munich on Tuesday, only recording one shot on target throughout a meek display at Old Trafford as a 1-0 defeat confirmed their European exit.
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On Sunday, Ten Hag’s under-fire team return to the scene of their most humiliating result of the 2022-23 season, having been thrashed 7-0 by rivals Liverpool at Anfield in March.
United have not won an away game against a team starting the day inside the Premier League’s top nine places under Ten Hag, and Owen believes they could be set for another difficult outing.
“I’d say United will be a little bit nervous about going to Anfield considering their recent form,” Owen told BoyleSports.
“Anfield can be a stadium where you can take a real beating, and United have felt that in the past.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) March 5, 2023
“Instead of going there with fear and defending for the entire game, they should look at how Tottenham played against Manchester City. They had a real plan and arrived at the Etihad with no fear.
“They could have easily lost 6-1, but that’s the only way you improve. Once you have a blueprint, then you can amend it from there.
“My concern with Manchester United is that they’ll go to Anfield and lose 2-0, then a few players will be relieved that it wasn’t a 5-0 embarrassment.
“If I were them, I would pick a way of playing, stick to it, and then hope to get better. I’d say 2-0 to Liverpool. It’ll be a reasonably comfortable win.”
