If you had been asked at the start of 2024 whether it would be Liverpool or Manchester United changing managers at the end of the season , there would have only been one sensible answer.
And yet, just a few weeks later, Jurgen Klopp dropped the bombshell that he would be leaving Anfield. Erik ten Hag, meanwhile, struggled his way to the end of the season, and before the FA Cup victory over Manchester City , it was claimed he was about to be fired.
Given that Manchester United finished eighth in the Premier League standings — three points behind a largely dismal Chelsea and 31 away from first place — that was hardly a surprise. A few weeks later, however, things have changed.
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As Arne Slot is about to be unveiled to the media for the first time, introduced properly as Klopp's replacement in a press conference in Kirkby, Manchester United has rewarded Ten Hag's mediocrity with a contract extension. As the rebuild under Jim Ratcliffe takes shape, it appears to have decided that there is no one better available on the market, and therefore a new deal was the only option.
Ratcliffe has made some strange calls since taking over his boyhood side — his treatment of the women's team and hurry to cut costs by letting staff members go are just two things that have brought scrutiny on him this week, as well as some odd comments about how the Premier League is run — but this is surely up there with the biggest mistakes. Already, the errors are starting to mount.
"As an Aston Villa fan, I'm excited by the news," Gabby Agbonlahor told talkSPORT . "Manchester United are one of the teams who are going to try and fight to get into the top four, and I don't think Ten Hag is the man to do that. Are you telling me Arsenal , for instance, would be happy with just winning an FA Cup? Manchester United finished in eighth position. Manchester United!"
Not that Liverpool will mind, though. As the Reds embark on a period of change, Manchester United keeping Ten Hag (and indeed indulging him further by signing Matthijs de Ligt, yet another player he worked with at Ajax) means it won't be a threat at the top of the standings next season. If it gets things right, it will return to being a true powerhouse — but the number of years since it won a league title continue to grow.
While the hires of key staff members like Dan Ashworth, poached from Newcastle United, behind the scenes have seen the Old Trafford side take big strides forward, Ten Hag being at the helm will be restrictive to say the least. Manchester United regularly conceded 20 shots per game last season and its midfield was almost non-existent.
That was all part of the plan, however. This is not a case of a head coach not having been given enough time or resources. Ten Hag opted to spend huge money on expensive risks like Casemiro and Antony. Neither Brazilian, signed for a combined total of $193m (£151m/€178m), has paid off.
Ten Hag's game plan was essentially to rely on moments from the likes of Bruno Fernandes or Alejandro Garnacho. His relationship with Jadon Sancho has deteriorated and his use of Marcus Rashford has failed to get the best from a player who should be at his peak.
It is possible, given that Liverpool is about to transition into a new era, that the Reds could drop off slightly next season. A proper title push would be ideal, but is not a guarantee. In Manchester United, though, there will be no threat of Liverpool losing its position in the Champions League places — Ten Hag still being at the helm is as big a boost as they come.
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