Manchester United News: Fans storm roads before the Liverpool match

An hour before the kickoff of one of the biggest matches in English football, about 10,000 supporters marched to Old Trafford and chanted against the Glazer family.

Some have been protesting since 2005 when the Glazers purchased majority ownership in United while also being the owners of Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Why are Manchester United fans protesting against the Glazer family?

The majority of the current hatred derives from their contentious 2005 takeover. Sir Alex Ferguson's eight years of on-field triumph tamed that hate, but nine years of mismanagement and on-field shame since have unleashed it.

There appeared to be a significant police presence on Sir Matt Busby Way, near the stadium forecourt entrance.

The players from both teams arrived at the stadium before the protest began, but even after kickoff, a big group of fans continued to protest as the game was played.

Manchester United is projected to have spent more than £1 billion on interest, debt, and dividend payments to the Glazers.

The Glazers have repeatedly withdrawn large quantities of money from the football club, and United's debts have climbed to about £500 million in recent financial records, an 11.8 per cent increase from last year.

Despite last season's poor performance, stockholders have issued dividend payments in recent months, and fans have been disheartened by what appears to have been a shambolic summer transfer market.

While hundreds of millions of pounds have been spent on transfers in recent years with little success, the money has come from club revenues rather than the Glazers' coffers, which has enraged fans.

The protest was boosted this week by rumours that millionaire United fan Sir Jim Ratcliffe is interested in purchasing the club.

Discontent with the ownership flared in May of last year, when a home league game against Liverpool had to be cancelled after the stadium, which was empty because of flu restrictions, was invaded, and thousands more supporters blocked passage into Old Trafford. In fights with supporters, two police officers were injured.

The club's role in the failed European Super League breakaway provoked the protest, which was met with widespread censure from fans and the British government.

Following the demonstration, the Glazers promised to repair confidence with United fans, but there has been little indication of this. In June 2021, co-chairman Joel Glazer visited United fans and explained his intentions to invest extensively in all club elements and improve fan representation in decision-making.

United won the last 20 English league titles in 2013 when Sir Alex Ferguson retired as manager. Manchester City and Liverpool, two of United's primary opponents, have dominated the domestic game in recent years.

Despite spending $1.5 billion on players since 2013, United hasn't won a major trophy in five seasons, its worst run since the early 1980s.