Manchester United's rescheduled Premier League match against Liverpool on Thursday was once again dominated by crowd demonstrations against United's supporters, the Glazer dynasty, outside Old Trafford.
The game was called off 11 days ago after fans rushed the field and a rally erupted into aggressive clashes with police.
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On May 2, two policemen were wounded when rocks were hurled at them and their horses when they moved to clear the crowd.
United players arrived at the venue many hours before the planned kickoff time of 1915 GMT to prevent a replay of the scenes that occurred last weekend as demonstrators barricaded themselves inside their hotel.
Liverpool players arrived a bit more than an hour before kickoff in what is a decisive match for their chances of qualification for the Champions League next season.
United have assured a second or third-place finish in the table and will meet Villarreal in the Europa League final on May 26.
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The Glazers' involvement in a botched European Super League (ESL) project, which crashed within 48 hours last month due to an outcry from supporters, clubs, legislatures, and governing bodies, has reignited resentment against them.
United and Liverpool were allegedly two of the driving forces behind the initiative, which aimed to guarantee top-tier European football for 15 founding participants per season without the requirement for qualifying on the field.
Joel Glazer, the club's co-chairman, has apologized for joining the ESL and admitted that greater contact with fans is expected.
For each of United's home games this week, a large police force has been deployed to create a perimeter around the ground.
The Red Devils will welcome supporters for the first time this season in their next home game against Fulham on May 18th, with close to 10,000 expected to participate."What we're doing (outside the stadium) is basically Manchester United turned into a dungeon," said Gary Neville, a former United captain.
"It's a dreadful sight for the club and its name all around the planet." Take care of that.
"Something has gone horribly wrong if you have to install jail barriers around the stadium and have hundreds of hundreds of security officers at a game where no spectators are present."
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