Manchester United's squad strategy in transfer market has improved under Erik ten Hag

The approach to Australian cricket's Mecca in Melbourne is tantamount to a batsman striding towards the crease. The monument to Dennis Lillee is suitably imperious, the seamer, ball in hand, immortalised at the point of delivery.

Swerve Lillee and to the left stands the insouciant genius of Shane Warne, a lone can of Victoria Beer placed in homage to one of the coolest cricketers as of Friday afternoon. Lillee and Warne painted the town red in the baggy green and the Melbourne Cricket Ground turned red for United.

In the East End district, banners from the New South Wales United supporters' branch were pinned to the walls of a bar on Friday night as fans went through their repertoire of anti-Liverpool chants. One accent was Mancunian.

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On the upmarket Collins Street, a goal kick away from the Yarra River, fans proudly wore United shirts during their morning walkabouts.

Melbourne is a sport-centric city and its arenas are bunched together like a proud family portrait. From my hotel window, the Rod Laver Arena is visible, as are Punt Road Oval and AAMI Park, the Aussie Rules and rugby grounds. The floodlights of the MCG loom as domineeringly as a firstborn.

The previous occasion United played here was 23 years ago and they were the champions of England and Europe. Their history and popularity endures in these fallow times; United graced the front page of the Herald Sun tabloid on Friday, with page leads in the news and sport sections.

A fan was quoted expressing their disappointment at Cristiano Ronaldo's absence though stressed "it is a pretty strong squad". This is the same squad responsible for United's worst season since they were relegated in 1974.

There are a surfeit