Manchester United face a difficult start to life under Erik ten Hag with Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City among their first 10 Premier League fixtures.
One of the most anticipated days of the football calendar year has arrived and Erik ten Hag will be thrown in at the deep-end in his first season as Manchester United boss.
Manchester United start the season by welcoming Brighton to Old Trafford in what will be Erik ten Hag’s first competitive fixture in charge of The Red Devils on Sunday 7th August.
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After that, United will hit the road to the Brentford Community Stadium in one of the few games they’ll be hoping for a repeat performance of last season.
The stand-out fixture and the one that every United fan looks for as soon as the fixtures are released comes just three games into the season. Old Trafford plays host to the biggest rivalry in English football when Liverpool make the trip down the East Lancs on 20th August.
It will be an early test for ten Hag as United look to get a first Premier League win against Liverpool in over four years when Marcus Rashford’s double was enough to take all three points in 2017/18.
United travel to Southampton and then Leicester before Arsenal come to Old Trafford in what will be an early six-pointer in the battle for top four - a far cry from when this fixture would go a long way to deciding where the title would end up.
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After fixtures against Crystal Palace and Leeds United, United will be heading to the Etihad for the first Manchester Derby of the season against the Champions, Manchester City in Gameweek 9. United’s first 10 Premier League games will then be rounded off with a visit to Goodison Park to take on Frank Lampard’s Everton.
A hectic schedule awaits ahead of the Qatar World Cup in November so Erik ten Hag will need to utilise his squad - or what’s left of it by August - especially when the condensed Europa League group stage begins on the 8th September. The familiar Thursday-Sunday routine will return and United will face tricky games at home to Arsenal and away to Everton after Europa League exploits, adding to ten Hag’s long list of challenges.
Manchester United can’t afford to lose any ground early unlike previous seasons where they’ve notoriously started campaigns poorly.
United won just five of their first 10 opening games last season, just six in 2020/21 and a shocking three in 2019/20, playing catch up before the season ever really got started. United were fortunate to finish in the top four after poor starts in two out of those three seasons but relying on other teams slipping up this season doesn’t seem likely.
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City and Liverpool have made major additions whilst already being lightyears ahead. Arsenal and Chelsea are likely to make signings and continue their upward trajectory whilst Tottenham have already strengthened under Antonio Conte and are starting to look like a real threat. Finishing in the top four could arguably be harder than it has been in recent seasons so ten Hag will need to break the trend of starting slow in recent years. A signing or two might help…
Manchester United’s opening 10 Premier League fixtures
Brighton (H) - 7th August
Brentford (A) - 13th August
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Liverpool (H) - 20th August
Southampton (A) - 27th August
Leicester (A) - 30th August
Arsenal (H) - 3rd September
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Crystal Palace (A) - 10th September
Leeds United (H) - 17th September
Manchester City (A) - 1st October
Everton (A) - 8th October
It should be noted that all of the dates listed are provisional and subject to change when matches will be selected and moved for live TV.
Topics: Erik Ten Hag, Football, Manchester United, Premier League, Liverpool, Arsenal, Brighton And Hove Albion, Manchester City
Michael Tunstall