There is something rather remarkable about watching Manchester United these days. For a club that once seemed to have everything under control, both on and off the pitch, the last decade or so has been a succession of false dawns, expensive mistakes and managerial changes. Just when you think they might finally be getting somewhere, it all comes crashing down again.
The latest casualty is Michael Carrick, dismissed on Thursday with United sitting 18th in the Premier League, having managed just one victory from their opening ten league matches. It is a remarkable position for a club of their size, particularly when you consider that only a few months ago Carrick was being praised for turning their fortunes around.
Now Mauricio Pochettino looks set to become the next man tasked with restoring some pride to Old Trafford. And, wouldn’t you know it, his first assignment could be a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on Sunday 22 November.
As a Liverpool supporter, part of me would have preferred Carrick to remain in charge for another couple of weeks. Not because I have anything against him personally, but because there is always something slightly uncomfortable about facing a team immediately after they have changed their manager.
Especially when that team happens to be Manchester United.
How Did Manchester United Get Here?
It was only in January that Carrick returned to the United dugout following the departure of Ruben Amorim. Initially appointed until the end of the season, he oversaw an impressive turnaround, winning 12 of his 17 Premier League matches and guiding United to third place.
Champions League football was secured, confidence returned and Carrick was rewarded with a contract until 2028. For the first time in a while, there appeared to be genuine optimism around Old Trafford.
Fast forward to November and it has completely unravelled.
Three victories in 15 matches across all competitions, just eight points from ten Premier League games and a defensive record that has offered opponents encouragement almost every week. The recent 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth was particularly damaging, while Sunday’s extraordinary 4-4 draw with Aston Villa rather summed up their season.
There was a Champions League victory over Roma along the way, but even that couldn’t disguise the wider problems.
The decision to remove Carrick was hardly surprising. What interests me more is how United have managed to find themselves in this position yet again.
They have changed managers, spent considerable money and talked repeatedly about rebuilding the club. Yet here we are, with another manager departing and another supposed new era about to begin.
At some point, surely, the people making these decisions have to accept that the problems run considerably deeper than whoever happens to be standing on the touchline.
Pochettino Could Change the Mood Almost Immediately
Assuming everything goes through as expected, Pochettino will arrive with a reputation that is considerably stronger than United’s current league position might suggest.
His work at Southampton and Tottenham demonstrated his ability to improve players, develop a clear playing identity and build teams capable of competing with the very best. Taking Spurs to the 2019 Champions League final was no small achievement, even if Liverpool ultimately made sure he didn’t get his hands on the trophy.
That night in Madrid remains a wonderful memory for us, of course.
Pochettino has since managed Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, along with the United States national team. He is an experienced coach who knows English football and understands the demands of managing a major club.
His appointment would therefore make sense, although whether he is capable of fixing Manchester United’s problems is another question altogether.
What concerns me from a Liverpool perspective is the immediate reaction his arrival could generate.
Footballers are human beings. Confidence matters, relationships matter and sometimes a change of voice can make an enormous difference. Players who have struggled for months can suddenly look revitalised when a new manager walks through the door.
Places in the starting eleven are up for grabs, reputations need rebuilding and everyone wants to make a positive first impression.
That is precisely the sort of situation Liverpool could find themselves facing.
What Could Pochettino Change Against Liverpool?
Pochettino’s football has traditionally been built around intensity, pressing and moving the ball forward quickly when possession is regained.
At Tottenham, his best teams were aggressive without the ball and excellent at exploiting the space opponents left behind. His preferred systems have generally involved a back four, with midfielders expected to work tirelessly and attacking players encouraged to press from the front.
However, implementing that philosophy properly takes time.
If Pochettino arrives after completing his international commitments with the United States, he will have very little opportunity to work with his new players before travelling to Anfield.
That could encourage a more cautious approach initially, with United concentrating on defensive organisation and attempting to hurt Liverpool on the counterattack.
And that is something Andoni Iraola will need to consider carefully.
Liverpool have shown throughout this season that they can be dangerous when playing with intensity and winning possession high up the pitch. But there have also been occasions when opponents have found opportunities by playing through that pressure.
The balance between attacking aggression and defensive discipline will be important.
United certainly have players capable of causing problems, regardless of their position in the table. Bruno Fernandes remains someone who can create a chance from very little, and Liverpool cannot afford to allow him time and space between the lines.
If Pochettino can provide even a modest improvement in organisation and motivation, United could be a considerably more difficult opponent than their recent results suggest.
Liverpool Must Remember What Happened Last Season
There is another reason I would be reluctant to dismiss United’s chances.
Liverpool haven’t actually beaten them in their last three Premier League meetings.
United won 2-1 at Anfield in October 2025 before recording a 3-2 victory at Old Trafford in May this year. The meeting before those ended 2-2 at Anfield in January 2025.
Those results should be a warning to anyone looking at the current league table and expecting Liverpool to win comfortably.
These fixtures have a habit of producing something unexpected, regardless of form, league position or the mood surrounding either club.
Liverpool will rightly be favourites. They are fourth in the Premier League, have home advantage and returned to winning ways with a 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace before the international break.
But United will arrive with very little to lose, particularly if their new manager is taking charge for the first time.
For them, a result at Anfield could provide a tremendous psychological boost and offer an immediate sense that things are moving in the right direction.
That alone should make Liverpool wary.
Iraola Has an Opportunity to Make a Statement
For Liverpool, the international break provides a chance to regroup after a demanding run of fixtures.
The victory at Crystal Palace was welcome following the disappointing home defeat to Arsenal, and Iraola will want his players to build on that result rather than allow another frustrating setback.
There are also fitness concerns to monitor, particularly surrounding Dominik Szoboszlai, whose knee problem has created uncertainty ahead of the United fixture.
Having the strongest possible squad available will be important, but ultimately this match will come down to Liverpool imposing themselves on the opposition.
If United arrive with a new manager, fresh enthusiasm and a determination to prove themselves, Liverpool need to match that energy from the opening whistle.
Anfield can play a huge part in that.
There are few fixtures that generate quite the same atmosphere, and the supporters will certainly need no encouragement to make their feelings known.
I would like to see Liverpool start quickly, put United’s defence under immediate pressure and make their visitors uncomfortable. The longer United remain in the contest, the more their confidence could grow.
This is an opportunity for Liverpool to take three important Premier League points, but also to reinforce the difference between where these two clubs currently stand.
Another New Beginning at Old Trafford, But Liverpool Have Their Own Business to Attend To
I have no doubt that Pochettino is a capable manager. Given time, the right recruitment and proper backing, he could improve Manchester United considerably.
But we have heard similar things about several managers who have walked through the doors at Old Trafford since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
Perhaps this appointment will finally be different. Perhaps United will discover the stability and direction they have been missing for so long.
Or perhaps we will be having this same conversation again in another couple of years.
From Liverpool’s perspective, the longer United’s problems continue, the better. I make no apologies for saying that. Football rivalry is part of what makes this game so special, and there will be very few Liverpool supporters losing sleep over what is happening down the East Lancs Road.
Nevertheless, I wouldn’t underestimate them next Sunday.
Carrick’s departure may have been inevitable, but the timing has created a potentially awkward situation for Liverpool. A new manager, a fresh start and one of football’s biggest rivalries provide all the ingredients for an unpredictable afternoon.
I still believe Liverpool should have more than enough to win the game. But they will have to earn it.
Because whatever state Manchester United find themselves in, there is one thing we should know by now.
They rarely make life straightforward for Liverpool.