Fire engines called to Man Utd team hotel ahead of Everton clash

Manchester United endured brief disruption to their preparations for Saturday night’s Premier League clash with Everton and Old Trafford when fire engines were called to the team’s hotel in Salford seven hours before kick-off.

United typically use the luxury hotel, located just across the River Irwell from Manchester city centre and a short drive to Old Trafford, as a base before home matches.

But when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his squad arrived on the team coach on Saturday lunchtime, fire engines were already on their way to the hotel.

The Daily Mirror writes that the United party pulled up shortly after 1pm, only for two fire engines to also arrive almost immediately afterwards. Crews of firefighters are said to have jumped from the vehicles and rushed inside, only for it be end up as a false alarm.

The firefighters are reported to have then left with everything appearing to be fine and the Mirror suggests the problem may have been caused by a fire alarm being set off in the hotel’s kitchens.

Whatever the issue, Solskjaer and the United squad were then able to go in and carry on their preparations for the crucial game without any further problems or setbacks.

After back-to-back games without victory, United returned to winning ways last time out when they thrashed Southampton 9-0 at Old Trafford to equal their own Premier League record from 1995.

The result almost doubled their goal difference, completely reversing the damage inflicted by the 6-1 defeat against Tottenham earlier in the season, and kept United in second place in the table.

A win against Everton would see United go level on points with leaders Manchester City and put the pressure on their rivals, who are in action away at Liverpool just under 24 hours later.

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