LONDON ¨C This is a game Louis van Gaal dare not lose. English football¡¯s clasico between Manchester United and Liverpool today is, like Barcelona vs. Real Madrid, not a derby, but it represents the fiercest and most hostile rivalry in English football.
The jury has returned on van Gaal a month into his second season though a majority verdict could not be reached. The charge was ¡°suspending ?250 million over the past year, which makes United the third-most expensive squad in world football, and still having a side with glaring deficiencies.¡±
The retrial starts at Old Trafford Saturday and anything other than a victory against a depleted Liverpool ¡ª playmaker Philippe Coutinho is suspended and striker Christian Benteke is an injury doubt ¡ª will heap more pressure on the Dutchman. There is also the future of David de Gea to sort out after his protracted and farcical non-transfer to Real Madrid, though the Spain international will be needed against Liverpool and is likely to make a belated start to his United season.
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