‘So far behind…’: Michael Dawson’s Man Utd commentary is overly critical – opinion

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·1 de mayo de 2025

‘So far behind…’: Michael Dawson’s Man Utd commentary is overly critical – opinion

Undoubtedly, Liverpool are a better club than Manchester United at the moment.

They not only won the Premier League with a month to spare under Arne Slot, but they have also re-signed key players to long-term contracts. Their latest 20th league title-matching effort does come as something of a sting for United fans.

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Even so, the latest words from Michael Dawson go too far. While speaking with Spy Sports Premier League, the former Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur centre back spoke on the current comparison between the two clubs. He expressed his opinion of Man Utd ‘being so far behind.’

Looking at what the current champions have accomplished

While what LFC has done under Jürgen Klopp and their transition to Slot are impressive, this is still an overstatement from Dawson. There isn’t anyone who can credibly make a case that United have done well in any of the recent seasons. Still, under Erik ten Hag, the Red Devils won an EFL Cup in 2023 and an FA Cup in 2024.

More to the point, despite the current gap in the table suggesting otherwise, Liverpool aren’t miles ahead of anyone. It can be difficult to properly assess play over the course of the season, particularly after hearing ‘You’ll never walk alone’ following the full-time whistle against Spurs. There were, however, a number of matches that required a strong second-half comeback. A misplaced touch or slight angle on the ball either way could easily have seen a completely different picture.

For 2024-2025, LFC were the best club in England, hands down. Certainly, they have been better than Man Utd. There isn’t, however, this huge, completely insurmountable gap. Mo Salah often needed to save the side through his heroics. That, too, has since tapered off as the season has progressed.

Getting back on track for Man Utd

Ruben Amorim, even with some of the latest results, is improving the product, and the vision is becoming clearer of how the team will look to play under his care. Particularly with how well Bruno Fernandes is playing and the reported additions who will soon join the squad, United are close to boasting one of the top attacks themselves.

A lot of the losses for ManU have always been a result of their own undoing. Mental gaffes are naturally a part of the game. They are disproportionately happening at key moments for the Red Devils. Cleaning up only a couple of those would easily swing the position in the EPL.

Namely, André Onana at keeper needs to be addressed. The current No. 1 has made a number of egregious mistakes that wouldn’t be acceptable at any level of football. This is the most obvious spot to look at. If the United GK stops gifting opponents goals at such an alarming rate, they’d be back on pace to minimally compete for a top-four spot.

Liverpool have the upper hand. To suggest that they have separated themselves from the rest of the pack is living in the moment too much. Man Utd, while it may not be as evident, aren’t nearly as far behind as people like Dawson believe.