Manchester United still a work in progress
After a thoroughly deserved 1-0 win over Fulham on MD1, many wondered whether the moves made by Manchester United have propelled them back to being a proper football team. MD2 suggested otherwise.
It was perhaps symbolic when Danny Welbeck, born and bred in Manchester, a member of the United academy since eight years old, opened the scoring. For Brighton. He was pushed out by his boyhood club in 2014 by Louis van Gaal, just a year after Sir Alex Ferguson retired. For those counting, it has been eleven years, and life at Old Trafford has rarely looked more bleak.
When Joao Pedro scored the winner 4 minutes and 25 seconds into overtime, it was deserved; in a tight game decided by small margins, Brighton had more dangerous attacks, more shots, and a better xG (2.34 to 1.65). They might be small in comparison, but by every other metric, the two teams stand on equal ground.
Even more worryingly for United: those minutes were once known as “Fergie Time” and they used to find a way to score themselves, one way or another. Since Erik ten Hag took over, United have allowed twelve goals in the 90th minute or later, tied for most in the Premier League in that time period.
There is still a long way to go. After all, of the four notable summer signings so far, just one (Noussair Mazraoui) was named in the starting line-up and two (Joshua Zirkzee and Matthijs de Ligt) made substitute appearances. So why would it be any different to the 2023/24 season in which United finished eighth with a negative goal difference? Maybe we are rushing things.
Can United respond vs Liverpool and which other games to enjoy over the weekend?
All times listed below are in Eastern European Summer Time (GMT+3).
Bayer Leverkusen – Leipzig
Saturday 19:30
They won the DFL-Supercup on penalties after playing with ten men from the 37th minute and Patrik Schick scoring the equalizer in the 88th minute; on MD1 in the Bundesliga, Leverkusen had Florian Wirtz pop up deep into overtime to snatch the 3-2 winner vs Gladbach. They made it a habit last season and have lost just once since May 2023, but surely not even Leverkusen can keep this up forever.
Leipzig had a great stretch to end last season, going undefeated since February (7W 4D), and got all three points vs Bochum on MD1 (1-0). They did not change much over the summer. Dani Olmo was sold to Barcelona, but Leipzig certainly have an eye for talent; acquired 19-year-old Norwegian striker Antonio Nusa already scored against Bochum. Furthermore, they have not been comfortable for Leverkusen, with both games ending 3-2 last season.
Manchester United – Liverpool
Sunday 18:00
United are undefeated against Liverpool in their previous three head-to-heads (3 defeats in normal time), but those followed the bruising 0-7 defeat and United have won just one of their last twelve (5D 6L) league meetings. Klopp is gone, however: the only Liverpool manager to win his first away league game vs United was George Kay all the way back in 1936.
Liverpool have started the season with two rather modest wins scoreline-wise (both 2-0), but they have had the most shots (37), the highest expected xG (5.3), and the lowest xG against (1) of all Premier League teams – they have been quietly excellent and take United on full of confidence. Old Trafford is not the fortress it once was.
Juventus – Roma
Sunday 21:45
We are witnessing another new beginning for Juventus. Barely four years after last winning the league – the last of nine in a row – the starting eleven has changed all-round, with just a few fringe players still around (including captain Danilo, who has played five minutes this season). Thiago Motta’s troops have started with two sharp 3-0 wins over Como and Verona and lead the table.
Roma should prove to be the first real test, but they seem to be struggling a bit. Daniele De Rossi had a positive effect when he took over from Jose Mourinho in January, but preparing for a new season is a different challenge; they have not been good enough so far and earned just a point from games vs Cagliari and Empoli.
The Betis Babble
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Next game: Sunday 22:30 @ Real Madrid
Betis was expectedly dominant vs Alaves, but could not break through and had to settle for a 0-0 draw. Truthfully, Betis had their first shot on target in the 75th minute, so maybe they did not deserve more. Alaves finished the game with ten men, but even that did not help Betis earn three points – they have now drawn both of their first two games.
Kryvbas of Ukraine was swept away in the Conference League play-offs though, earning a ticket to the real thing.
As for Real Madrid, things are not clicking as they normally do in the capital. A 3-0 win over Valladolid, with two late goals, has been their only so far – sandwiched between tough away draws vs Mallorca and vs Las Palmas. Kylian Mbappe is yet to score in La Liga.
