Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has claimed that recent supporter protests against the club's American owners have affected his players.
United will finally be able to play in front of a crowd for their final Premier League home game of the season at Old Trafford on Tuesday, with relegated Fulham the visitors.
The club will welcome back 10,000 fans after their Covid-19 enforced absence, much to the delight of Solskjaer.
But anti-Glazer protests saw a number of fans break onto the Old Trafford pitch, causing the match against Liverpool on May 2 to be postponed.
The rescheduled game saw Liverpool win 4-2 last Thursday, while 48 hours previously Leicester were also victorious at Old Trafford in a fixture which saw more pre-match protestations.
United made 10 changes to the starting line-up for that 2-1 defeat against Brendan Rodgers's side due the fixture congestion caused by the rearranged game against Liverpool.
That Leicester defeat also resulted in Manchester City being crowned Premier League champions.
Solskjaer, though, is keen to have supporters back inside the stadium for legitimate reasons and has called for it to be a "positive day" for everyone involved with the club.
"We've been waiting for a long, long time to welcome the fans back," he said.
"Of course the last couple of home games, especially the Liverpool ones with the protests ... It's never nice to see a club that is not united, fans with the team, so we're hoping that Tuesday is going to be a positive day that we move together, that we play a good game of football.
"That's my job to prepare the team to play well and that they enjoy the day because that's important that we get back and enjoy being together.
"I think the mood in any club and the relationship between the team and the fans is vital to what happens on the pitch.
"The players are all human beings, we're all human beings, and we will react to getting our supporters back in a positive way.
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Manchester United supporters stormed Old Trafford before the game against Liverpool on Sunday, May 2. The game had to be postponed as a result of the protests against United's American owners. AFP -
Supporters protest against Manchester United's owners at Old Trafford. AFP -
Manchester United supporters on the Old Trafford pitch before the game against Liverpool. AFP -
Supporters protest against Manchester United's owners - the Glazer family - inside Old Trafford. AFP -
Manchester United supporters protest against the Glazer family. AFP -
United fans protest against the club owners. AFP -
Fans protest against Manchester United's owners. Getty -
Fans took part in a massive protest at Old Trafford on Sunday. Getty -
Fans protesting against Manchester United's owners. Getty -
Fans hold up banners as they protest against the Glazer family at Old Trafford. PA -
Fans protest against the Glazer family before Manchester United's match against Liverpool. PA -
Supporters protest against Manchester United's owners at Old Trafford. AFP -
United fans clash with police outside of Old Trafford. AFP -
United fans hold flares during the protest at Old Trafford. PA -
Fans protest against the United owners outside Old Trafford. AFP -
United fans clash with police outside of Old Trafford. AFP -
United fans clash with police outside of Old Trafford. AFP -
United fans clash with police outside of Old Trafford. AFP -
United fans clash with police outside of Old Trafford. Reuters
"They have always been giving us extra energy and hopefully the players will give the fans a reason to cheer and that's what we have to focus on."
A victory will guarantee United finish the season in second place but their league form has been largely based around a fine away record.
The Red Devils are unbeaten on the road in the Premier League this season and have lost an away league game in 15 months.
Six home defeats put paid to any realistic chance of challenging Manchester City for the title but Solskjaer believes the recent displays in defeat to Leicester and Liverpool were impacted on by the protests.
"I just didn't want to use it as an excuse because we lost two games but surely it's a reason behind the performances," he added when asked if the protests had affected his players.
"I'm not saying it didn't affect them but I was impressed with how professional they were and how they went about it.
"There was none of them that complained and that's one of the big things for me, we never complain we just look at what we can do and how could we maximise the situation.
"We tried to do that but we couldn't get the results but the players have been good as gold. They've had a couple of days off and they're refreshed and ready and now we prepare as normal for these last two games."
United 2 Liverpool 4: player ratings
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MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: Dean Henderson - 5. Saw a clever 22nd minute ball coming towards Jota and moved forward to block it. Rapid reaction to 33rd minute shot but Liverpool’s opener was too quick for him. Poor for Liverpool’s third. Bad night. EPA -
Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 7. Advanced enough to play a ball in for United’s opener from the by-line line. Got his foot in to win the ball back as Liverpool dominated towards the end of the first half. Best United player but not the best right back on the pitch. AP -
Victor Lindelof - 6. Played out of position on the left of central defence, gave the ball away just after Liverpool’s opener in a frantic period for United. Didn’t look as comfortable as he does alongside the already missed Maguire. Reuters -
Eric Bailly - 5. The only player who’d played against Leicester 48 hours previously. Looked like he’d conceded a 26th minute penalty but won ball and VAR saved him. Left the field with a strained face. Measured and stable he is not. Reuters -
Luke Shaw - 5. Gave ball away for Liverpool's first chance and lost possession taking the ball away from goal before Liverpool’s third. Below par and another player weaker without Maguire. PA -
Fred - 5. Calmer than those defenders behind him in the first 20 minutes, but that was it. Low point was giving the ball away in a dangerous position which led to Liverpool’s third straight after half time. It was a sign of what was to follow. Gave the ball away yet again after 59 which led to Liverpool hitting the post. Poor and the first player off as a result. EPA -
Scott McTominay - 5. Convincing opening like his team but then as poor as those around him. Unforced errors and misplaced balls as Liverpool cut through them. Booked and then fell into Mane on 80 and got away with no foul being given. AP -
Bruno Fernandes - 6. Ninth minute shot with the outside of his foot deflected past Alisson. Dipped in and out as possession and chances swung wildly in a game of four halves. EPA -
Paul Pogba - 5. Played on the left and his crossfield ball to Rashford helped build the opening goal. Challenging for him when against the in-form Alexander who passed him with ease too many times for comfort, but he combined well with Shaw again. Fired a left foot shot off at 1-1, but Firmino got behind him to score the second. Poor defensively. Questions remain about his dependability in the biggest matches. Reuters -
Marcus Rashford - 6. Neat ball forward to Wan Bissaka before United’s first in an excellent first 20 minutes from United. The less said about the rest of the first half the better and Rashford was as bad as any, but then came alive, squeezing the ball in for United’s second after 68. Super cross towards Fernandes on 71. AP -
Edinson Cavani - 5. Signed a new contract to stay this week which was welcomed by fans, but seldom involved. Missed a chance he should have scored after five minutes. Out of the game in the spells where Liverpool were on top. Linked well with Rashford for United’s second. Reuters -
SUBS: Mason Greenwood - 7. On for Fred after 63 and immediately improved United. Double shot on target after 70 as United pushed for an unlikely equaliser. Nemanja Matic N/A - On for Bailly after 86. Reuters -
LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 5. The Brazilian was twitchy with the ball at his feet and presented Cavani with a chance early on. His uncertainty transmitted to the defence. PA -
Trent Alexander-Arnold - 9. The Scouser sent in a succession of crosses, the best of which allowed Firmino to give Liverpool the lead but the full back’s all-round play was superb. Excellent at both ends of the pitch. Reuters -
Nathaniel Phillips - 7. The 24-year-old put the ball into his own net to surrender an early lead but his error was the culmination of a defensive collapse. He made up for his mistake with his contribution to the equaliser and a clearance off the line in the second half. A huge show of character. EPA -
Rhys Williams - 6. The 20-year-old had a less eventful night than his centre-back partner but showed composure when United turned up the pressure. He might have been more aware of the threat before Rashford’s goal. Reuters -
Andrew Robertson - 6. The Scot worked the length of the line in the first half but was more restrained after the break. He was always available as an outlet for team-mates under pressure. Getty -
Fabinho - 7. The Brazilian was bypassed during United’s early spell of possession but the match changed when he got a foothold in the game. He set the tempo and protected the back four. PA -
Georginio Wijnaldum - 6. The Dutchman worked hard to produce forward momentum but was sometimes wasteful in possession. He put in a shift before being replaced by Jones with 16 minutes left. Getty -
Thiago Alcantara - 7. The 30-year-old dwelt on the ball a little too often in the first half but got more snap into his passing after the break. He pressed hard and was good in the tackle. AFP -
Roberto Firmino - 8. The Brazilian was tentative early on but his goal just before half time put Liverpool in front. His confidence bloomed and he added to his scoring tally early in the second half in a sparkling display. Reuters -
Mohamed Salah - 7. The Egyptian prowled around the United half spreading fear among defenders. He was rewarded with the fourth goal, his 30th of the campaign, before leaving the game in stoppage time for Neco Williams. PA -
Diogo Jota - 7. The Portuguese tested Henderson twice in the first half before scoring a clever equaliser. He hit the post and will regret not adding to the scoresheet before he was replaced by Mane with 16 minutes to go. AP -
SUBS: Sadio Mane - 6. The Senegalese looked sharp after entering the game for Jota in the 74th minute. He could have scored almost immediately. His refusal to acknowledge his manager after the final whistle was a bad look, though. Reuters -
Curtis Jones - 7. The 20-year-old made the most of his 16-minute cameo after coming on for Wijnaldum. He put himself about in midfield and provided the pass for Salah to score the fourth goal. Neco Williams - 6. The 20-year-old was given a brief stoppage-time runout in place of Salah. He was on the pitch just long enough to enjoy a victory lap. Reuters
