Manchester United VS Liverpool: PL Preview

                                   

 FORM

Manchester United vs Liverpool remains the biggest rivalry in English football, every fixture as  pulsating as ever, there is hardly a dull match when this two clubs meet. This season 1st leg in the Premeir League promises to be just as exhilarating, with the inaugration of Arne Slot as manager after Jurgen Klopp left last season, Liverpool have been in good form winning their two opening fixtures in the league and playing good football. United on the other hand won 1 and lost another away at Brighton who are starting to become a thorn to United, Erik Ten Hag's team is much changed from last season, the perfomance in the last two games has been good but some problems from last season like missing clear chances and poor defending seem to be resurfacing this early in the season, the dutchman's team is less erratic, with the manager choosing a clear 4-2-4 formation in press and 3-1-6 formation in attack, United's press has gone through massive changes the large patches of space in midfield which were a mainstay last season are less prominent and the attack very sharp and alert, fashioning chances which were unfortunately not finished resulting in the unnecessary pressure they face this early in the season. Since Sir Alex retired back in 2014, United have gone through a fast declining and are still struggling to get back to the pinnacle of English football. In their last 14 fixtures in all competitions against the team from Merseyside, United have won 3, drawn 5 and lost 6 with some scorelines no United fan would like to remember. In this new era spearheaded by INEOS, hopefully the tables will turn.

Liverpool LINE UP And Possible Style Of Play 

                                   

The Liverpool team has experienced little changes since Slott's takeover mainly the introduction Diogo Jota as the sole center forward, Gravenberch playing alongside Mac Allister in defensive midfield and Quansah replaced by Konate in the starting line-up on Matchweek 2, the rest are the usual suspects.  Due to Liverpool having a new manager it will be difficult to guess exactly what they would do, whether it would be the usual massive press and overlapping of full backs in attack used by Klopp or Slott will prefer something different, we shall see on Sunday.

                                

Manchester United LINE UP And Possible Style Of Play 

                          

Manchester United Team on the other hand is as everchanging with injuries still persisting, as mentioned aboved, Ten Hag has since favored a 4-2-4 formation since it helped him win the FA Cup against City last season, the back four include Dalot in LB, Martinez in LCB, Maguire in RCB and Mazraoui in RCB, the midfield two are Mainoo and Casemiro, and the front four made up of Rashford starting from the left, Amad from the right with Fernandes and Mount pushing from the center. When in possesion Ten Hag's teams morphs into a 3-1-6, with Casemiro joining Martinez and Maguire making up the back 3, Mainoo standing sole in midfield and the remaining 6 players all joining the front line. However considering the injury to Mason Mount, Zirkzee looks set to start and possibly Garnacho might be brought in for either one of Rashford and Amad, which ever way it goes, tomorrow's fixture promises to be a classic. 

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2024/25 Europa League Draw: The Gods Of Football Reunite Manchester United And Mourinho

 

New League Format For Europa League

The Europa and Champions league formats have both gone through drastic changes with both competitions to be played in single table league format, each team will play eigth different opponents four away and four at home. The top eight will advance to the round of 16, teams that finish between 9th and 24th will contest for a spot in the round of 16 through knockout play-offs, from then on the European format we are use to will return as the path to the final remains the same.

                                        

The Gods Of Football Reunite United And Mourinho

Even before the draw was made there was a supressed excitement among united and football fans about the nostalgia of playing former manager Jose Mourinho (The Special One), alas the draw was made and there it was, an away match at Fernabahce the club which Mourinho is now head coach, it has the potential of been a fixture that might be as explosive as United's round of 16 Europa League clash against Barcelona back in 2022, the Gods of Football did not miss the oppurtunity of another fixture of such stature. Other teams which United will face include RANGERS (H), FC PORTO (A), PAOK (H), BODO/GLIMT (A), VIKTORIA PLZEN (A), TWENTE (H), FCSB (A).  After crashing out of the competion at the semi-final stage against nemesis Sevilla last season, the goal for Erik Ten Hag's team must be to use the disappointment of two seasons ago to go all the way in this season Europa League. 

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A Tribute To Scott McTominay and United To Play Barnsley In The Caraboa Cup Third Round

 

A Great Servant Leaves The Club

McTominay a Scottish international born and raised in Manchester has been at United since he was 5yrs old, spending an incredible 22yrs at the club, McTominay has spent 7yrs in Manchester United's first team, for someone coming from the generation of his more talented teamate Marcus Rashford, Mctominay stayed this long through his mentality and work rate not just surviving 5 managers, three of them permanent but playing an important role in each team.

The McFred era would not be remembered fondly by a lot of  United fans but the fact remains that though hindered by their talents, both players always sweat and bled for the club as former manager Solkjaer once pointed out. But McTominay would most definitely be remembered for his goal scoring ability and memories they bring, scoring 10 goals last season including a 2minute brace against Brentford helping United get a win from the jaws of  defeat, another brace against Chelsea, the winner against Villa at Villa Park and my personal favorite a strike from the centre of the pitch to an empty Manchester City net that famously completed the double over City under the rain at Old Trafford back in 2021, the euphoria caused by that strike is one I carry even now. McTominay departure would make way for an even more important addition in the squad in Manuel Ugarte who could possibly work into the starting eleven, but his 22 years of service to Manchester United would sholly not be forgotten by any United fan and most importantly the Old Trafford faithfull who sang his name last season.

United To Play Barnsley In The Third Round Of The Caraboa Cup

The Caraboa Cup being the first trophy won by Ten Hag after a six year drought without a trophy for the cabinets at Carrington, would bring good memories to United fans barring last season collapse against Newcastle at the same stage of the competition. On 17 of September United will play Barnsley at Old Trafford for a place in the 2nd round of the competition, hopefully we will go all the way as we did two seasons ago.

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Manuel Ugarte: The Transfer All United Fans Have Been Waiting For

 

Manuel Uguarte And His Impact On The Team

From the moment the transfer window opened last month, every single United fans has certainly been eagerly waiting to see the new name the club will sign in midfield to replace the aging Casemiro, names like Sander Berge and Yosouf Fofana have been brought up, but Ugarte has always been regarded as choice number 1,2 and 3 as Fabrizio Romano pointed out. A destroyer in midfield, he is the perfect replacement for Casemiro, a player who will provide cover for the defence and be the center of the team's rest defence structure as Casemiro was two seasons ago. Having had the most tacles in the domestic leagues his palyed in, with over 100 tackles in both the French League and Portuguese League in the last two seasons, United fans will expect to not see the midfield been run through like knife and butter which was a constant last season, apart from that, with Ugarte been played as a sole defensive midfielder should finally give Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo license to go forward and play their best game without worrying about the back. For over 7yrs since Michael Carrick left the club, United have not had a defensive midfielder who will control the game and also stop counter attacks, Casemiro looked to be that player, but contrary to what most people think, he did not loose form but rather age cut up with him, this singular problem in midfield has hindered Bruno Fernandes our best player from playing his best game for over four seasons now. With a midfield of Uguarte, Mainoo and Fernandes we might just have one of the best midfields in the league if it all works out.

Ugarte's Influence On Casemiro's Form

As pointed out earlied Casemiro did not necessarily lose form but rather age caught up with him, he was needlessly been dribled through and his tackles where shrugged off easily unlike his first season in the club, but in this new season having had a run of games under his belt he looks to be in better shape and with the signing of Ugarte that will hopefully serve as extra motivation to work harder and get back to his best form as no player would like to lose his position in the starting eleven. If that does happen that will provide Ten Hag with a problem he will definetly appreciate even though most United fans will probably like to see Casemiro dropped as soon as possible.

A Big Change In Transfer Strategies

As important as new signings have been, what is even more commendable is United's activities in the transfer market this summer. With new executives like Dan Arshworth, Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox joining the technical department of the club, we have seen a vast difference in United's transfer strategies, the club has signed five players, Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Noussair Mazraoui, De Ligt and Manuel Ugarte all without paying over 60 million for any player and most importantly this players will all strenght the spine of the team which was seriously weakened with injuries last season. Another important point is the signing of two extra players for the academy, the record holder Chido Obi-Martin and Mali talent Sekou Kone adding to the vast young talent at our disposal, if everything goes well this season will surely be better than the last.

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