23 Apr 2014

English football power returns to Liverpool

11:49 am on 23 April 2014

The balance of power in English football has shifted from one famous US-owned club to another, with Liverpool on course to win the league for the first time in 24 years while rivals Manchester United are in disarray and seeking a new manager.

The Glazer family who own United revealed their ruthless streak Tuesday when they sacked manager David Moyes after less than one season in the job.

Moyes inherited a Premier League-winning team from Alex Ferguson last year but a dismal campaign means United will miss out on a place in the UEFA Champions League next season for the first time since 1995.

Failing to qualify will cost United upwards of 30 million pounds next year, but the Glazers will have been prompted to act by fears of a long barren streak of the kind from which Liverpool are emerging.

Liverpool top the Premier League by five points with only three games to play, and victory over second-placed Chelsea on Monday morning will almost guarantee them their first English title since 1990.

The Dutch national coach Louis van Gaal is tipped to take charge of Manchester United.