Manchester United supporters stage large protest before Liverpool game

A large group of Manchester United supporters angry at the direction of the club under its American owners were taking part in a protest ahead of the Premier League game against Liverpool on Monday.

The supporters chanted against the Glazer family — «We want Glazers out» — and held banners calling for the Americans to sell United as they walked from a nearby pub toward the club's storied Old Trafford stadium during the hour before kickoff of one of the biggest matches in English football.

— ESPN+ viewers' guide: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, FA Cup, more — Everything you need to know about Man United signing Casemiro

There appeared to be a large police presence on Sir Matt Busby Way at the entrance to the stadium forecourt.

The players from both teams arrived at the ground before the protest started.

Discontent has soared following United's poor start to the season, which has seen the team lose both of their games — 2-1 at home to Brighton and a 4-0 humiliation at Brentford.

The target of the majority of the anger is the Glazer family, who bought United in 2005 with a leveraged takeover that loaded debt onto a club which previously didn't have any. Critics say the Glazers, who also own the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers, have failed to invest enough of their own cash in the squad or facilities and have presided over years of failure by England's biggest team.

Payments on interest, debt and dividends to the Glazers are estimated to have cost United more than £1 billion.

«They are ruining the history, traditions and culture of our great club and [we] will not stand by and watch our club rot away any longer,» said The 1958, a fans' group that arranged Monday's protest.

Dissent toward the ownership, which has simmered since the 2005