Loading article
Manchester United vs Liverpool: Pochettino faces his first major test at Anfield as he looks to revive United against Iraola's Liverpool.
Manchester United could hardly have picked a more difficult fixture for the start of Mauricio Pochettino's reign. After dismissing Michael Carrick following a poor run of results, the club have turned to the former Tottenham and Chelsea manager to help get their season back on track. His first match will be against Liverpool at Anfield.
It is a big occasion, even by Manchester United's standards. The team are 18th in the Premier League after taking just eight points from their opening 10 matches, and there is already serious pressure to turn things around.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are fourth with 18 points. Andoni Iraola's side will have home advantage and will know that United are coming into the game at a difficult moment.
For Pochettino, this is more than just another match against a familiar rival. It is his first chance to show United supporters what he can bring to the club. But before looking at what he might change, it is worth asking how much of United's current situation can really be blamed on the manager.
Carrick's dismissal came as a surprise to some supporters, especially considering how well he did after taking charge in January 2026. He helped United finish third last season, winning 12 of his 17 Premier League matches and earning himself a new contract.
This season, however, things have gone badly wrong. United managed just three wins in 15 matches across all competitions before his departure, and their poor league form left the club in the relegation zone.
The decision to make a change is understandable, but it does not answer the bigger questions about the club. United have gone through several managers since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, yet they are still struggling to find the consistency expected of a club of their size.
It has become a familiar pattern. A new manager arrives, supporters look forward to a fresh start, and there is usually some improvement before the same problems begin to appear again.
The issues are not limited to the touchline. Recruitment, squad balance, player performances and the relationship between the dressing room and the club's leadership have all been part of the conversation.
Recent comments involving Lisandro Martinez have also brought the relationship between players and the club's leadership into focus. Read more: Martinez comes out with statement after criticising Man United bosses.
This is the situation Pochettino has walked into. He must improve the results, but he also needs to help United become a team with a clear style of play and a stronger sense of direction.
That will not happen in a few days. He needs time to understand the squad, identify its weaknesses and work out which players can help him carry out his plans.
The club must also play its part. If United are serious about returning to the top, the people responsible for recruitment and football operations need to work towards the same goals as the manager.
Pochettino has enough Premier League experience to understand the demands of managing a club like Manchester United. His work at Tottenham was particularly impressive, as he built a young, energetic side that regularly challenged for the title and reached the 2019 Champions League final.
His teams are known for pressing, intensity and quick movement. Those qualities could be useful for a United side that has struggled to control games and maintain good performances over 90 minutes.
His time at Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea also exposed him to the pressure that comes with managing clubs where winning is expected. Those spells were not without difficulties, but they added to his experience of handling big players and demanding dressing rooms.
One of his first jobs will be to improve the balance of United's midfield and defence. The team need to become harder to play against without losing the ability to create chances going forward.
Bruno Fernandes is likely to remain an important part of the plan. The captain is one of United's main creative players, and Pochettino will need to find a way to get the best out of him while making sure the rest of the midfield provides enough support.
The attacking players also have a responsibility. United cannot expect a new manager to change their fortunes if they continue to waste chances or disappear from games when the pressure increases.
There is another issue Pochettino will eventually have to deal with: the squad itself. Some players may suit his style, while others could struggle to find a place in his plans. The club will need to make sensible decisions in the transfer market rather than repeating the mistakes of previous years.
The situation of Tyrell Malacia is one example of how quickly a player's Manchester United career can take an unexpected turn. Read also: FC Cincinnati sign Tyrell Malacia three years after injuries derailed his Manchester United career.
Pochettino does not need to rebuild the entire squad immediately, but he must start making the team more competitive. Supporters will want to see progress, and that means more than simply getting a few good results.
The Manchester United vs Liverpool fixture will also bring Pochettino face to face with a manager he knows from his time in the Premier League. Liverpool's current head coach, Andoni Iraola, previously managed Bournemouth, and the two faced each other twice during the 2023–24 season.
Their first meeting came on September 17, 2023, when Chelsea travelled to Bournemouth. The game ended 0–0, despite Chelsea creating opportunities to take all three points. Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson both hit the woodwork, while Bournemouth goalkeeper Robert Sanchez made important saves.
The second meeting took place on May 19, 2024, on the final day of the season. This time, Pochettino's Chelsea won 2–1 at Stamford Bridge, with Moises Caicedo and Raheem Sterling scoring for the home side.
Bournemouth pulled one back through a Benoit Badiashile own goal, but Chelsea held on for the victory. Pochettino therefore finished his two meetings with Iraola unbeaten, recording one win and one draw.
There was an interesting twist after that game. It turned out to be Pochettino's final match as Chelsea manager, as the club announced two days later, on May 21, that they had mutually agreed to part ways.
Iraola's story at Bournemouth took a different direction. He signed a contract extension in May 2024 and remained with the club until the end of the 2025–26 season, when he decided to leave after his contract expired.
Pochettino was later replaced at Chelsea by Enzo Maresca, while Iraola moved on to Liverpool, taking over from Arne Slot ahead of the 2026–27 campaign.
Their next meeting will carry much greater attention. Pochettino is trying to lift Manchester United out of a difficult position, while Iraola will be looking to take advantage of the problems facing his opponents.
United cannot afford to approach the match carelessly. Liverpool will look to put pressure on them, and any mistakes in possession or gaps in the defence could make life difficult for the visitors.
Pochettino will have very little time to introduce his ideas, so he may have to keep things simple at first. A well-organised team that works hard, defends together and takes its chances would already be a positive sign.
A win at Anfield would give him a huge boost, but even a good performance could help restore some confidence among United supporters. What matters most is whether the team can build on that performance in the games that follow.
Manchester United have tried changing managers before, and the excitement around a new appointment has not always lasted. Pochettino now has the chance to give the club a different direction, but he will need more than a strong first result to make it work.
The meeting with Liverpool is a difficult place to begin, but it could also give supporters their first real idea of what to expect from the new Manchester United.
Comments (0)
Be the first to comment.