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 — playmaker Philippe Coutinho is suspended and striker Christian Benteke is an injury doubt — 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.