Just like the second one last week, the third weekend in the Premier League season concludes with a Monday Night Football which once again involves Liverpool. This time the Reds are on their travels when they go to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United.
The dismal start to the season for Manchester United has been widely highlighted but with two draws from their opening two matches it hasn’t been a quick start for Liverpool either. That only adds to the desperation to win for both teams.
Where to watch
The match will be shown as part of the Monday Night Football programme which begins on the Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League channels at 6.30pm. Kick off at Old Trafford is at 8pm.
Manchester United
The Erik Ten Hag era was meant to be the one which changed the fortunes of Manchester United and while we shouldn’t react too strongly one way or the other after two matches, I think the one thing we can tell is if the Dutchman is able to turn things around at Old Trafford he won’t be doing it particularly quickly. If we are being honest United have been a shambles, conceding six times to Brighton and Hove Albion and Brentford and registering a single goal, which Brighton scored for them.
It is pretty clear that Ten Hag is still getting an understanding of his squad. I don’t think he considered things to be as bad as they are but the fact Christian Eriksen has played in a false nine position in one match and a deep lying playmaker role in the other just suggests there is a lack of a plan. United look like they can be exposed defensively at ease and it isn’t like they are convincing at the other end of the pitch. The only positive they have heading into this one is that supporter expectations are at an all-time low.
Liverpool
I think when Liverpool won the Community Shield most people expected them to start the Premier League season like a house on fire but that isn’t how it has played out. They were a little fortunate to come away from Fulham with a draw in their opening match having trailed twice and then they were the width of the post away from losing to Crystal Palace last week. Liverpool have injuries but the personnel they had on the pitch in those two games would still have been expected to come away with two wins.
There is a case to be made that Liverpool were making chances in those two matches but didn’t take them. That would be fair enough but it is a concern at the same time, especially with many thinking that Sadio Mane played a key role for Liverpool that they are obviously without now. The really concerning thing though would be how easily Fulham and Crystal Palace have got through the midfield to bear down on the Reds defence. That needs to improve quickly.
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Team News
Manchester United are hoping to have Anthony Martial back available after he has returned to training. Erik Ten Hag won’t be able to call on the services of Victor Lindelof though as he remains out with injury. Casemiro is not yet eligible.
Liverpool have a number of players out with injury. Thiago Alcantara and Diogo Jota are the two most important ones but Joel Matip is another whose absence could be felt. Darwin Nunez begins his suspension here but Roberto Firmino returns.
Betting
I’m sure Liverpool and a lot of goals will be all the rage in this match and I can understand that but I’m not convinced they are playing that well and it might be that after hitting rock bottom last week this is the match in which the fortunes of Manchester United will change. I’m certainly not brave enough to back them, although they are getting a lot of assistance on the Asian handicap but I’m going to look deeper into the betting for my bet on the match.
That comes in the 7/4 on Marcus Rashford to have a shot on target. I mentioned last week how teams can get at this Liverpool defence more and more when Thiago isn’t in the Reds’ midfield and we saw evidence of that both in the draw with Palace and the one against Fulham the week before. Rashford has started 10 times against Liverpool and he has five goals so he enjoys the challenge posed by them and why wouldn’t he? He plays on the left of the three which means he will be up against Trent Alexander-Arnold who for all his attacking quality can’t defend for toffee. Aleksandar Mitrovic drifted off him to open the scoring for Fulham at Craven Cottage two weeks ago and Wilfried Zaha did the same thing but hit the post at Anfield last week. Rashford hasn’t registered a shot on target this term yet but he did fire a good chance against Brighton over the bar. His record against Liverpool and TAA’s defensive inability makes me think that price is huge for Rashford to hit the target.
Tips
Back M.Rashford – Over 0.5 shots on target for a 3/10 stake at 2.75 with Bet365
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