Manchester United is one of the biggest clubs in the world but it has not operated like one for some time, and thankfully Liverpool didn't make the same mistakes as its fiercest rival
06:00, 12 Jan 2026
Roy Keane suggested that Sir Alex Ferguson is "hanging around like a bad smell"(Image: Sky Sports)
Manchester United's decision to sack Ruben Amorim a week ago prompted plenty of analysis on where the club has been going wrong since Sir Alex Ferguson's 2013 retirement.
Roy Keane weighed in with his take last week, and wasn't afraid of having a pop at his old boss, suggesting that Ferguson was "hanging around like a bad smell".
The notion that Ferguson should shoulder some blame for United's struggles, so long after he retired, is daft – but United did make mistakes when he left 13 years ago by relying on him to choose his own successor.
Ferguson was instrumental in David Moyes being appointed United's manager in 2013, in a sign of just how behind-the-times the club was with the way it operated.
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The legendary Scot no longer has a say on managerial decisions – although Darren Fletcher did say he sought Ferguson's "blessing" before accepting the caretaker role last week – but the club continues to flounder.
Of course, it is not Ferguson's fault that the club has not modernized since his exit, but the Moyes appointment was a howler – although whoever succeeded Ferguson would have been on a hiding to nothing.
Liverpool found itself in a similar situation to United when Jurgen Klopp left in 2024, and wisely did not call on Klopp for advice when selecting his successor.
The Reds plumped for Arne Slot after a detailed recruitment process, and the Dutchman guided the team to Premier League glory in his first season in charge.
What next for United?
Discussing United's next interim manager is probably not of too much interest to Liverpool's supporters, but the Red Devils' decision could have implications for Liverpool.
Just three points separate Liverpool and United in the league table, with both teams harboring ambitions of qualifying for the Champions League.
At the moment, Liverpool is in pole position to secure qualification, and United does not look in good shape at all after a run of just three wins in its last 12 top-flight games.
But if the unlikely happens, and United makes a good appointment, a new-manager bounce could be on the cards which could see the Old Trafford club apply significant pressure on Liverpool in the race for the Champions League.
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Darren Fletcher has presided over a draw and a defeat in his two games in charge, while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Michael Carrick and Ruud van Nistelrooy are all said to be in the running to take charge until the end of the season.