Fuming Man Utd fans protesting against hated owners Glazers BLOCK players from leaving Lowry Hotel for Liverpool clash

MANCHESTER UNITED fans blocked the squad from leaving the Lowry Hotel in protest against the club ownership leading to Sunday's clash with Liverpool being postponed.

The players and staff were staying in their usual Manchester base a couple miles from Old Trafford ahead of facing the Reds at 4.30pm.

But a planned protest against the Red Devils' owners, the Glazers, led to a stand-off with police at the entrance to the hotel just hours before the game.

Supporters chanted and lit flares next to the team bus as it waited for the squad.

Scott McTominay, Lee Grant and Luke Shaw were all spotted watching the chaos outside as they waited to find out whether the game would go ahead, before eventually leaving with a police escort at around 7.15pm.

Elsewhere, a demonstration featuring a large number of fans outside Old Trafford led to hundreds rushing onto the pitch.

Footage emerged online of fans chanting towards the Sky Sports television studio and cameras set up in the main stand.

One clip even showed a flare being hurled in the direction of the gantry, while protestors were also seen carrying the United corner flags.

Authorities managed to usher the crowds off the pitch but the match was pushed back an ultimately postpned.

A Prem statement said: "Following the security breach at Old Trafford, the Manchester United vs. Liverpool game has been postponed.

"This is a collective decision from the police, both clubs, the Premier League and local authorities.

"The security and safety of everyone at Old Trafford remains of paramount importance. 

"We understand and respect the strength of feeling but condemn all acts of violence, criminal damage and trespass, especially given the associated COVID-19 breaches. 

"Fans have many channels by which to make their views known, but the actions of a minority seen today have no justification.

"We sympathise with the police and stewards who had to deal with a dangerous situation that should have no place in football.

"The rearrangement of the fixture will be communicated in due course."

Sky Sports' pitch side reporter Geoff Shreeves revealed players were yet to come out of their hotel rooms due to safety concerns.

Fans had turned out at both the Lowry and the stadium with flags and banners protesting the club ownership.

Recent weeks have also seen protests outside Arsenal and Chelsea's stadiums against club owners and the European Super League.

And a group of United supporters entered the club's training ground last month to stage a protest.

A billboard attached to Hotel Football, the establishment co-owned by Class of 92 legends such Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, also called for change.

It displayed a quote from ex-defender and pundit Neville as the protest began, which read: "We have got to come together now... We have got to stop this, it is absolutely critical that we do."

It is not thought that the Glazers were present in Manchester for Sunday's game.

Meanwhile, Liverpool's squad stayed elsewhere and were pictured taking a morning stroll ahead of the game.

The protests come after years of discontent with the Glazers, magnified by the European Super League debacle.

United were among six English teams to sign up to the doomed breakaway plot, which sought to supersede the Champions League.

The Glazers have also faced large-scale criticism for unloading debt onto the club and failing to win trophies.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side sit second in the table ahead of the derby having last won the Premier League in 2013.

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