Graeme Souness makes Man Utd admission as Nicky Butt issues ‘very difficult’ Glazers verdict

Manchester United are now putting the final touches on their preparations for a huge Premier League clash with rivals Liverpool.

The Red Devils have a chance to solidify their top four position and keep pressure on the clubs above them, while Liverpool are scrapping to get back into the top four conversation. It has been an impressive few weeks for United, who have won a Carabao Cup, beaten Barcelona and achieved a solid run of Premier League form. A win at Anfield would be the cherry on top.

In the meantime, we have rounded up all the latest news surrounding Old Trafford.

Butt talks Glazers

Nicky Butt has addressed the uncertainty surrounding United’s ownership situation.

“Obviously the owners are the big thing at United. They have never really fit, never been visible and the fans have never really grown to them,” Butt told BBC Sport.

“If you have teams like Newcastle or City or Chelsea who keep on spending money on stadiums, training grounds and players, it’s very difficult to catch up with them. People keep saying how well United are doing but if they are going up, do you think City aren’t going like that in the background as well?

“You’ve still got to catch them because they aren’t standing still. Chelsea aren’t standing still. Newcastle will be like that as well. We don’t know what the owners are going to do. Are they going to sell the club fully and let someone come in and throw a lot of money at the fundamentals of it or are they going to ask someone to come in and help fund it?”

Souness on Martinez

Graeme Souness has been impressed and surprised by Lisandro Martinez’s impact this season.

“I think Lisandro Martinez is one of those players who, if you’re playing against him, would annoy the life out of you,” Souness told the Daily Mail. “He’s a feisty so-and-so isn’t he? The phrase ‘argue in an empty house’ comes to mind! He’d have an argument with himself, looking in the mirror! But team-mates react to that.

“I thought he would be exposed when he arrived at United, because of his size and relative lack of pace. I have to hold my hands up, there. But he obviously has a real football brain and that ‘lead from the front’ mentality. You can see it in him. Everyone on the pitch, he wants to have an argument with. I love to see that.

“Casemiro’s got a bit of it in him, too. They’re the ones who can carry the flag. And then, behind them, you’ve got others suddenly ready to stand up and be counted. I like the way Erik ten Hag has reinstated discipline. These are the kinds of qualities I always remember when we went up against Manchester United.”