Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have arrested eight men and charged one individual following Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final clash between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford.
George Fenning, 39, was charged with possession of a class B drug, a pyrotechnic and throwing missiles. He has since been bailed.
Two United fans were arrested on suspicion of causing intentional harassment, alarm, or distress through chanting. This comes after “tragedy chanting” during the 4-3 victory, which was said to have indirectly referenced the Hillsborough disaster.
As part of United’s club sanctions, anyone found to have sung tragedy chants is handed a three-year ban, with the option to increase depending on the circumstances. Following a criminal charge, this can be increased to a lifetime ban. United say they will issue sanctions following the conclusion of the internal and police investigations.
Further arrests included three Liverpool supporters apprehended on suspicion of possession of class A drugs, along with another for suspicion of possessing a pyrotechnic. Moreover, one Liverpool fan was detained for a racially aggravated public order offence, while a United supporter was taken into custody for suspicion of pitch encroachment.
GMP said that they are “also aware of footage circulating on social media of a United supporter engaging in tragedy chanting”. They added that while no arrest has been made, they “are working with both clubs to identify the individual in connection with this incident”.
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Chief Inspector Jamie Collins, Silver Commander for the match, said: “I would like to thank the vast majority of supporters who came along to enjoy what turned out to be an intense game right to the very last minute.
“Thanks as well to all our officers and partners involved in the operation yesterday who contributed to what was a fantastic FA Cup tie.
“The arrests made were the result of us taking a proactive, zero-tolerance approach to ensure that genuine supporters and spectators were able to enjoy the match safely.
“GMP can confirm that a 21-year-old and a 59-year-old man were arrested in connection with tragedy chanting. Incidents of tragedy chanting will not be tolerated and will be dealt with robustly.
“We held a supporter group meeting with both sets of fans prior to the match and both groups agreed that tragedy chanting was totally unacceptable. GMP will clamp down on this and arrest those who engage in such behaviour, regardless of what team they support.”
The Football Association (FA) said on Sunday that they will be “liaising with and supporting” GMP, adding that they are “determined to stamp this behaviour out”.
United, meanwhile, said they were fully supportive of the statements made by GMP and the FA. They have stressed that there is no place in football for tragedy chanting, and will continue to work with Liverpool to educate fans.
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(Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
It appears to be mostly good news for Liverpool as four players with injury doubts looming over them prepare to link up with their national teams this month.
As it stands, Liverpool have seen 26 players called up for international duty in the final break of the season, including most of Jurgen Klopp‘s first team.
However, the manager cast doubt over Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo following their efforts against Man United on Sunday.
“Lucho felt his groin, Darwin [his] hamstring and Cody twisted his ankle. They play again in four or five days, it’s crazy,” Klopp told BBC Sport.
And with Ibrahima Konate not part of the squad for the FA Cup quarter-final defeat, it was unclear whether he would join up with France either.
But as the players begin to report for training ahead of various friendlies over the next fortnight, there seems to be mainly positive news.
The only ongoing concern is for Nunez, with Uruguay yet to release their final squad list for friendlies against the Basque Country (March 23) and Ivory Coast (March 26).
Initial reports in Uruguay claim that the 24-year-old has, however, been left out of Marcelo Bielsa’s selection as a result of the hamstring injury.
Whether it is a major concern for Liverpool though remains to be seen.
Per journalist Julien Froment, France manager Didier Deschamps told reporters on Monday that there were “no worries” over Konate following medical checks at Clairefontaine.
Meanwhile, Colombian outlet Noticias Caracol reports that Diaz’s groin issue was “nothing serious” and he reported to Colombia’s base in London as normal on Monday.
An update from the Dutch FA, confirming the withdrawal of Ajax striker Brian Brobbey from the Netherlands squad, also suggests that Gakpo has no major injury.
A statement on Monday afternoon explained that manager Ronald Koeman “does not call up a replacement, so the Dutch selection now consists of 25 players.”
If Gakpo was also due to pull out, Koeman would almost certainly be required to add at least one more forward to his ranks, but that does now appear to be the case.
Speaking in his post-match press conference on Sunday, Klopp expressed his hope that national team managers wouldn’t overburden his players this month.
“I think most of them have friendlies, Wataru, I think, has qualifiers but I cannot make these decisions for the managers, most of them we don’t speak the same language,” he told reporters.
“They want them in the best possible shape for the summer, most of them play [in summer tournaments], so I hope they don’t have to play two games, 90 minutes.”
Nottingham Forest have become the second Premier League club to be docked points for spending offences this season, with Everton also facing new sanctions.
Forest have been deducted four points after breaching the Premier League‘s profitability and sustainability rules, which sees them drop into the relegation zone.
The club, who are currently managed by Nuno Espirito Santo, fall below Luton into 18th, with their points total dropping from 25 to 21.
A number of reports on Monday relayed the news, with Forest expected to appeal the sanction – a verdict over which must be delivered before the end of the campaign.
It follows a previous 10-point deduction for Everton, which was later reduced to six following appeal, though Liverpool’s rivals could be sanctioned again.
Everton were charged, for the second time, alongside Forest in January, though they are not expected to learn of any punishment until next month.
Reports claim that Everton‘s case will be heard by an independent commission towards the end of this week, with rules stipulating that a verdict must then be made within seven days.
The situation comes after the introduction of profit and sustainability rules by the Premier League in 2013, which stipulate that clubs cannot post losses of more than £105 million over a period of three seasons.
However, the losses allowed for Forest were lower than that figure as part of that three-year period saw them playing in the Championship.
Forest were able to lose no more than £61 million between 2020/21 and 2022/23, with their heavy and prolific spending upon gaining promotion in 2022 playing a major part in their breaches.
The Nottingham club have signed no fewer than 42 players since returning to the top flight, with an outlay of around £250 million including the signings of ex-Liverpool duo Neco Williams (£17m) and Taiwo Awoniyi (£17.5m).
Stunned silence swiftly turned to a booming show of defiance.
The 9,000-strong travelling throng from Merseyside had been shocked by Amad Diallo’s dramatic late winner at Old Trafford.
Liverpool’s quadruple dream lay in tatters. Hopes of a return to Wembley as part of Jurgen Klopp’s farewell tour had been dashed. This painful FA Cup defeat at the hands of their arch-rivals cut deep.
But as the away fans waited patiently to be allowed out around 20 minutes after the final whistle, the mood changed and the noise was cranked up once again. “We are Liverpool” was followed by a rousing rendition of the club’s anthem before Klopp’s name was chanted repeatedly.
If something had to give in Liverpool’s pursuit of perfection, then at least it was this. The reality is that they are chasing bigger prizes as they eye Premier League and Europa League glory to accompany last month’s Carabao Cup triumph.
Given the injury crisis Klopp has been wrestling with recently, it’s a miracle they maintained a challenge on all fronts for so long. Now the manager must ensure this setback doesn’t have wider implications.
It feels like the international break comes at a good time for Liverpool. When they resume their title charge at home to Brighton on March 31, Ibrahima Konate and Curtis Jones should be fit. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota won’t be far behind them.
“The more of the boys we have available, the bigger our chances are to finish the season in style,” Klopp said. “We will go for everything, but first the boys have to recover.”
Liverpool fans had been enjoying their day until the late twist (Michael Regan/Getty Images)Liverpool won’t have to wait long for a shot at redemption, with the Premier League trip to Old Trafford coming up on April 7. Those three points are certainly more valuable to them than a place in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
However, to secure them, there can be no repeat of the glaring errors that blighted Sunday’s performance. Klopp’s side only had themselves to blame for this defeat and lessons must be learned.
They made life difficult for themselves by starting slowly and allowing United to grasp the initiative. How was Alejandro Garnacho not tracked in the build-up to Scott McTominay’s opener? Sloppy in possession and far too easy to play through, Liverpool could have fallen further behind before their powers of recovery came to the fore.
“We had to organise ourselves a little bit better,” explained Klopp. “We struggled with the man-marking, we didn’t play enough, these kinds of things. In the moment when we found for the first time a way to play, then we got rhythm and it looked really good.”
With Alexis Mac Allister’s equaliser swiftly followed by Mohamed Salah celebrating his 13th goal in 14 appearances against United, Liverpool had the perfect platform to kick on and show why these teams are 17 points apart in the Premier League table.
They squandered it. During a dominant second-half display, chances were wasted and decision-making repeatedly let them down. This was underlined by the wasted five-v-two counter-attack after substitute Cody Gakpo led the charge. They let United off the hook and, as Klopp put it, “left the door open”.
United duly equalised through Antony with three minutes left to force extra time and Klopp’s decision to replace Salah with the ineffective Gakpo backfired.
After substitute Harvey Elliott’s deflected strike put the visitors 3-2 up, Liverpool were on the brink of their first FA Cup win at Old Trafford since 1921, but there was no control. Game management was conspicuous by its absence.
Harvey Elliott scores Liverpool’s third goal (Stu Forster/Getty Images)Darwin Nunez’s misplaced pass left them exposed in the build-up to Marcus Rashford’s equaliser and then worse followed as a first penalty shootout between these clubs looked to be the outcome. A Liverpool corner became a two-v-one breakaway after Elliott was dispossessed just outside United’s penalty area.
It is the first time Klopp’s side have conceded four goals in a game since the chaotic final day of last season at Southampton and it was also the first time in 46 games in all competitions in 2023-24 that they have lost after going in front.
The manager felt that fatigue was ultimately Liverpool’s undoing in extra time. This was their ninth match across four different competitions in the space of 29 days and the second time they had played 120 minutes in that sequence. Legs were weary and minds scrambled late on.
“It got really hard for us,” Klopp said. “That was the first time that I really saw my team struggling. We’ve played a lot of football recently.
“We didn’t even know who to take off. The way we conceded the last two goals, you can see we were not on top of our game anymore as we gave two balls away. Absolutely no criticism about that. I saw a team who understood the importance of the game and gave absolutely everything. Today it was not enough and that’s what we have to accept. Now they fly all around the world pretty much. Let’s really hope and pray they come back healthy.”
Klopp admitted his side looked fatigued (Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images)The final break of the season gives Liverpool the chance to take stock and regroup. When the action resumes, it will be relentless, with the stakes so high and so little margin for error. Brighton and Sheffield United at home before that revenge mission against United and then the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final with Atalanta.
Klopp had always dismissed talk of signing off with a quadruple, insisting the energy-sapping demands involved meant the odds were stacked against them. He was proved right. This was a game too far for Liverpool. They threw it away, but with the bigger picture still so enthralling, their supporters refused to stay quiet for long.
The FA Cup was never going to define the final chapter of Klopp’s reign. It’s the Premier League title race and a possible European final in Dublin on May 22 that will do that.
(Top photo: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
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Sky Sports' Peter Stevenson and Adam Bate react to Manchester United's thrilling 4-3 win over Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals.[unable to retrieve full-text content]
After dominating the second half, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes his side had more than enough chances to win the game in normal time as they went on to lose 4-3 in extra-time to Manchester United.