Liverpool have been punished for anti-Glazers protest - not Manchester United

Liverpool face Manchester United this evening and have been unintentionally punished for the protest that took place at Old Trafford on the second of May.

The Reds travel to Old Trafford for their rearranged match against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side and will need to leave with a win if they're going to stand any chance of making it into the top four before the season ends.

Liverpool's owners, while imperfect, were quickly compared to the Glazers by Gary Neville.

He said: "Lets just talk about FSG a little bit. They have been part of four things in the last 12 months which are desperate signs, they are acting desperately behind the scenes.

"They furloughed their players, that is very un-Liverpool like. They tried to cut their wages behind the scenes. They've gone for the 'project big picture' and tried to change the 14-6 rule in English football.

"And now, along with the Glazer family, have tried to create a European super league. They are desperate actions of the owners of Liverpool Football Club.

"At this moment in time I accept the Manchester United fans are angrier with the Glazer family than Liverpool fans are (with their owners), but Liverpool fans need to see the danger with what FSG are doing."

First of all, Liverpool did not furlough their players - only their non-playing staff. This doesn't make it any better but just one of several nuances that Gary Neville has failed to notice.

Second of all, the main difference between Liverpool fans and Manchester United supporters is that we don't necessarily want FSG to sell the club but rather to see them match the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea in the transfer market and with wages spent on top talent.

The Glazers are far more toxic than John W. Henry and co.

Liverpool were punished in a number of ways for United fans disruption, with one way being that it allowed Ole a good excuse to field a weak team against Leicester as they slumped to a 2-1 defeat which makes qualifying for the Champions League next season that little bit harder.

And by playing a weak team against the Foxes, it allows Ole to go full strength against Liverpool which could help the Red Devils put another dent in their chances of playing in Europe next season.

Then, there's the matter of the officials that have been selected for the game at Old Trafford.

Anthony Taylor and Paul Tierney are both from Manchester while David Coote was the VAR on duty when Virgil van Dijk's season was ended by Jordan Pickford. A terrible tackle which a penalty wasn't awarded for and a tackle that wasn't punished with a red card because "Coote forgot the rules."

Then there's the matter of the game being postponed at all. The game was rescheduled due to police involvement in the decision but when Liverpool wanted to reschedule an EFL Cup quarter-final against Aston Villa due to their involvement in the Club World Cup, they were told no and had to field the U23s.

The inconsistency is maddening.

Somehow, Liverpool have been the ones punished for Manchester United fans acting violently and thuggishly when the club and the supporters involved haven't been punished at all.

Hopefully, Liverpool batter United this evening to make up for it.