Arsenal felt the full force of the Anfield atmosphere in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool, as Manchester United had done a month earlier albeit with a different outcome.
Even Roy Keane begrudgingly admitted after this weekend’s match that the ground is a fortress. "I don’t like saying it too much obviously having played for United but there is something bizarre," he said. "The energy that’s in the stadium, obviously the history of the club, it is very, very difficult." Old Trafford held a similar fear factor during Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign.
Seldom did a visiting team come away with a win, and if they did it was a massive coup and cause for celebration. READ MORE: Eriksen sends message to United fans about remainder of season That dissipated after Sir Alex’s retirement and the likes of Burnley and Middlesbrough have walked away from the Theatre of Dreams with wins in the years since.
However, Erik ten Hag is slowly managing to turn Old Trafford into a crucible once again. United have not lost at home in the Premier League since the opening 2-1 defeat to Brighton, which in hindsight of the season does not look as shoddy as it first did given how high the Seagulls are flying this campaign.