If the rumours are to be believed then the poor start to the 2025/26 campaign will spell the end for Michael Carrick in the managerial hotseat. Whether it is a former club legend that fills the role temporarily, or Eddie Howe, Julian Nagelsmann, or Bruno Conte taking charge, the new manager and fans would probably snap your hand off if offered a point in United's next match after the international break.
Any kind of draw at Anfield would be welcomed, even if it is the dullest 0-0 stalemate imaginable. The rest of us would take a repeat of the thriller against Aston Villa, but perhaps that is being a bit greedy. Those of us with memories that go back to the early days of the Premier League this "whole new ball game" would happily settle for a recreation of the drama of January 4, 1994.
The version of Manchester United visiting Liverpool on that memorable Tuesday evening at the start of 1994 were the complete opposite to the current shambles. Reigning champions, Alex Ferguson's team were 12 points clear of nearest challengers Blackburn, and had only lost one match in their 24 league fixtures.
Liverpool on the other hand were simply too inconsistent to mount any kind of title challenge. Despite opening the season with three wins, four defeats in September indicated that winning the Premier League was a distant dream. Manager Graeme Souness, trying to blend new signings with youth players, could not find a winning formula.
Naturally, United still approached the trip to Anfield with some trepidation, even if they were 21 points clear of their great rivals. "Liverpool are going through a transitional spell but they'll be hyped-up for us," United midfielder Paul Ince stated. "Things aren't going to click straight away but the Kop can be frightening because they want to beat us so much."
If United wanted to silence the Anfield faithful then their display in the opening 23 minutes was the ideal way to do so. After the prolific Robbie Fowler missed a glorious chance to open the scoring early on, United were simply irresistible. Three goals in a breathtaking 15 minute spell deflated the vast majority of the 42,795 crowd.
Opting to switch Liverpool to attack the Kop in the first half, United's three goals were scored in front of their jubilant travelling fans in the Anfield Road stand. Eric Cantona's perfect ball into the area allowed Steve Bruce to head in the opener after eight minutes, before two stunning strikes from outside the box sent the away end into raptures.
Ryan Giggs chipped effort over Bruce Grobbelaar in the 20th minute was sublime - television pundit Jamie Redknapp may have a harsh opinion on his own part in the goal - before a Denis Irwin free kick, accompanied by a cracking sound effect as the ball hit the stanchion, seemingly sealed the three points after just 23 minutes.
Strangely, the cameras cut to a rare sight of goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel smiling after Irwin's goal, not something one would normally associate with the Dane. Later Ferguson would question whether that third goal had taken the edge off his own team. "At 3-0 we got carried away," Ferguson fumed. Come the end of the match, even the flies on the wall may have wanted to escape the away dressing room.
Liverpool needed a quick response. The man who instigated the fightback was a player who had struggled to make an impact at the club since joining in the summer for £2.28 million. Nigel Clough may have scored two goals on his debut, but since the opening day of the season the form of the midfielder had been as patchy as his team.
However, Clough would make an impact on this crazy night. Firing past Schmeichel from over 30 yards out - the microphones again picking up the clunking sound as the ball clipped the inside of the post - Clough's goal was crucial, coming just two minutes after United had stretched their lead. "Again, it's a strike to admire," an understandably excited Andy Gray noted on the live Sky coverage. "We really have been spoilt tonight."
There was even more to come. In the 38th minute, Clough pounced after the ball had rebounded to him in the penalty area - television pundit Roy Keane may have a harsh opinion on his own part in the goal - as the Kop exploded. "This is absolutely incredible stuff," Gray screamed. There was still time for Giggs to miss a sitter before everyone could catch their breath at half-time.
Goals may have dominated the first half, but both goalkeepers demonstrated their ability after the break. Grobbelaar pulled off fine saves from Giggs and Keane, with Liverpool's keeper applauding Schmeichel's stretch to deny Redknapp. But with time running out, Liverpool would cap an extraordinary comeback.
Neil Ruddock's header in the 79th minute from substitute Stig Inge Bjørnebye's cross came at a cost, the £2.5 million centre back clashing heads with Gary Pallister as he scored the equaliser. "That is what you call attacking the ball," a delirious Gray announced, as a staggering Ruddock struggled to stay on his feet to celebrate the moment.
Cantona could have won the game shortly afterwards, an audible sigh of relief ringing around Anfield as his header went wide. But it really was a match that neither team deserved to lose. "Well, they'll talk about this night for a long, long time," commentator Martin Tyler stated at the final whistle. Quite.
"The tension was enormous, the talent was glittering, the goals - the first five coming in 28 first-half minutes - were stunning," the Guardian's Cynthia Bateman wrote. "Both sides had promised this would be a 'one-off' and every minute lived up to expectation." Ferguson and Souness had been put through the emotional wringer, but even they had to admit that it was a treat for those watching.
"I wasn't happy with what happened," Ferguson revealed. "In fact I was raging, but that doesn't take away from the fact that this was a fantastic match - incredible really. And Liverpool deserved to draw in the end. They went kamikaze on us, going for everything, adding an extra yard to their running, and the crowd were at fever-pitch."
"I can't say I enjoyed the first 20 odd minutes when United punished us for our mistakes," Souness noted. "But over the years Liverpool have always been capable of coming back and once Nigel scored his first goal I thought there might be something in it for us."
Tellingly, Souness would add that his team needed a higher level of consistency. Although Liverpool would win their next two league matches, an FA Cup third round replay defeat to First Division Bristol City at Anfield brought Souness' reign to an end at the end of January. Ultimately he would pay the price for failing to get a regular tune out of his team.
The banner unveiled at Anfield on that intoxicating night would not be forgotten by United fans: "Au revoir Cantona and Man United, come back when you've won 18". History tells us that United did come back. Again and again. But when Ferguson departed, the fun stopped. Replacing a legend is never easy, as seven permanent managers in 13 years suggests.
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