Gary Neville says the match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford on Super Sunday will be of great significance to their opponents, managers Michael Carrick and Arne Slott.
Both teams finished in the top five this season and appear to be on track to qualify for the Champions League, with United three points clear of their rivals, but sixth-placed Brighton & Hove Albion are 11 and eight points behind with four games remaining.
But while qualification for next season’s top club competition in Europe is certain for both sides – United would indeed guarantee their place with a win over their arch-rivals at the Theater of Dreams – Sunday’s meeting remains hugely important for the two men in charge of their respective clubs.
After Monday Night Football’s win over Brentford, United head coach Carrick – who has won nine wins from 13 games since taking over in January until the end of the season – claimed on Gary Neville’s podcast that United head coach Carrick is “very likely” to be the club’s permanent manager next season.
Meanwhile, despite an underwhelming Premier League title defense that included 10 defeats, Slott guided Liverpool to fourth place in the table and a place in next season’s Champions League in sight.
As a result, the Dutchman is expected to remain as Liverpool’s head coach next season, but Sky Sports News understands that neither player can afford a heavy defeat this weekend, according to Neville.
I don’t think either of them can afford to embarrass themselves on Sunday. A win would be huge for both.
Sky Sports’ Gary Neville appears on the Gary Neville Podcast
“First and foremost, this is an important game for the fans,” former United captain Gary Neville said on the podcast.
“Manchester United and Liverpool, it’s a great rivalry. But I think this is a huge thing for both managers. I think it’s a big thing for Michael Carrick and I think it’s a big thing for Arne Slott.”
“I don’t think either side can afford to be embarrassed on Sunday. A win would be huge for both. It would give confidence to both sides.”
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Highlights of the Premier League match between Manchester United and Brentford.
“There are question marks over whether they will both be at their respective clubs at the start of next season. Is Michael going to get the job? Is Arne Slott going to stay? Those questions continue to present themselves in some way for the Liverpool manager.
“I don’t think the match itself is that important for either team in terms of the stakes of what’s at stake. I think both teams can qualify for the Champions League.”
“But I think it’s a serious game for both managers, a serious game basically looking ahead to next season against our big rivals, our big rivals in terms of United and Liverpool.
“The showdown between Michael Carrick and Arn Slott is the big draw on Sunday. I think it’s a bigger game than it really is for both managers in terms of what’s at stake in terms of their league position.”
As for the match itself, Neville expects it to be a tough game at Old Trafford.
“If (Mateus) Cunha is the right guy, I think we’ll go with Cunha, (Brian) Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes and (Benjamin) Sesco,” he added.
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Highlights of the Premier League match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace.
“He will potentially target those four. I don’t know if Amad (Diallo) will play or not.
“But I think you’ll see a more cautious Manchester United side than we saw in the first half tonight (against Brentford), you’ll definitely see a tighter, more compact, more defensively focused Manchester United side.
“I don’t think he’ll start in a back five. I don’t think he’ll go that far. That’s a mistake, he won’t do that. Let me be clear, he’s definitely not going to do that.”
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Jamie Carragher has admitted that Arne Slott will remain at Liverpool next season “from the noise I’ve heard”.
“But he will definitely say they have to switch up their defense more, be more compact and tight. And that means not making mistakes, not conceding goals. Let’s go make Liverpool nervous.”
“And Liverpool basically don’t want to be open as well, so it could be a chess match on Sunday.
“It’s not as bad as the second half (against Brentford), but I think it’s going to be a bit more challenging and a kind of uphill battle. “Both managers won’t necessarily pick the team they pick, but they’ll be very careful in the sense that they’ll go into the game and tell us to be compact and solid defensively.
And with both teams expected to finish in the top five this season, Neville believes a win for either manager this weekend would have huge implications for next season.
“To be honest, I think Liverpool and Manchester United are among them,” he said. “I think it would be a big shock (if we miss out on qualifying for the Champions League).
“For me, United qualify. Liverpool, I’m 95-99 percent sure they can also qualify for the Champions League.”
The showdown between Carrick and Slott is the biggest thing on Sunday – something both coaches feel is very important.
Sky Sports’ Gary Neville appears on the Gary Neville Podcast
“Look, they don’t think about that, the manager doesn’t think about that, the players don’t think about that, they think they have to do their job. But it doesn’t seem to me right now that other teams are winning games that they should be winning and Liverpool are dropping all the points that they should be dropping.
“Is it a message for next season or is it a message for the current situation at each club? The last few months have been strange for Liverpool in terms of where they are, right?
“So if Arne Slott comes here and wins, it will be a big thing for him. If Michael Carrick can go and beat Arne Slott and see Liverpool off here, that will be a big thing.
Sunday, May 3rd 2:30pm
3:30pm kickoff
“The game is never about the coach, of course it’s not, it’s about the players, the fans and the rivalry, but I feel this game is very important for both coaches and I’m looking forward to it in that regard.
“I wish there was more to the fight, I wish it was a title fight, I wish there was everything else, I wish there was some danger involved, but I don’t think there will be.”
