Undoubtedly, Liverpool are a better club than Manchester United at the moment.
They not only won the Premier League with a month to spare under Arne Slot, but they have also re-signed key players to long-term contracts. Their latest 20th league title-matching effort does come as something of a sting for United fans.
Even so, the latest words from Michael Dawson go too far. While speaking with Spy Sports Premier League, the former Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur centre back spoke on the current comparison between the two clubs. He expressed his opinion of Man Utd ‘being so far behind.’
Looking at what the current champions have accomplished
While what LFC has done under Jürgen Klopp and their transition to Slot are impressive, this is still an overstatement from Dawson. There isn’t anyone who can credibly make a case that United have done well in any of the recent seasons. Still, under Erik ten Hag, the Red Devils won an EFL Cup in 2023 and an FA Cup in 2024.
More to the point, despite the current gap in the table suggesting otherwise, Liverpool aren’t miles ahead of anyone. It can be difficult to properly assess play over the course of the season, particularly after hearing ‘You’ll never walk alone’ following the full-time whistle against Spurs. There were, however, a number of matches that required a strong second-half comeback. A misplaced touch or slight angle on the ball either way could easily have seen a completely different picture.
For 2024-2025, LFC were the best club in England, hands down. Certainly, they have been better than Man Utd. There isn’t, however, this huge, completely insurmountable gap. Mo Salah often needed to save the side through his heroics. That, too, has since tapered off as the season has progressed.
Getting back on track for Man Utd
Ruben Amorim, even with some of the latest results, is improving the product, and the vision is becoming clearer of how the team will look to play under his care. Particularly with how well Bruno Fernandes is playing and the reported additions who will soon join the squad, United are close to boasting one of the top attacks themselves.
A lot of the losses for ManU have always been a result of their own undoing. Mental gaffes are naturally a part of the game. They are disproportionately happening at key moments for the Red Devils. Cleaning up only a couple of those would easily swing the position in the EPL.
Namely, André Onana at keeper needs to be addressed. The current No. 1 has made a number of egregious mistakes that wouldn’t be acceptable at any level of football. This is the most obvious spot to look at. If the United GK stops gifting opponents goals at such an alarming rate, they’d be back on pace to minimally compete for a top-four spot.
Liverpool have the upper hand. To suggest that they have separated themselves from the rest of the pack is living in the moment too much. Man Utd, while it may not be as evident, aren’t nearly as far behind as people like Dawson believe.
Coming from a former pro that spent his whole career being “so far behind” , I wonder what qualifies him to comment?
There is a 43 point gap. That is a fact, you can spin narratives but United are miles and miles behind them.
Can you be more delusional????? If this was the other way around, what would you be saying?
Liverpool never finished a season anywhere near as low as you’ll be, even with all the chaos that Hicks and Gillet caused. Remember, it wasn’t too long ago that they almost destroyed Liverpool, so looking at where they’ve come from, you have to admit that’s it’s been very impressive. If it wasn’t for Man City’s cheating, there would have been more.
Man Utd have imploded massively. They went from being 2nd in Tags 2nd year to now closer to relegation. Fernandes is your only half decent player (and he’s not even that great) and if we use your Salah comparison, if it wasn’t for him you’d be being relegated!!!!
I’ve posted this before, but we simply must get a functioning attack. In our League matches, only 11 times have we scored more than 1 goal, and five of those matches were against sides subsequently relegated. So currently, the whole team knows if we concede, the most we’re going to get is a draw. Concede twice or more, and that’s us done. Gotta get back to the Fergie days where there was little nervousness amongst the players as mostly conceding a goal – or two – was irrelevant when the full-time whistle blew. Get scoring confidence back and we’ll be unrecognisable from the dismal shower of recent years.
I forgot to say in my last comment that’s in the last 10 years. Man United have spent £700 million more than Liverpool…….. look at the table and then think logically…. that is shocking!!!