Manchester United take on Liverpool at Old Trafford on Monday night with both sides still yet to pick up a win this season.
Not many would have envisaged that both sides would be without a Premier League win after two games. An injury-hit Liverpool are in danger of replicating their 2020/21 season and United have continued their poor form from last season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick.
Old Trafford awaits on Monday night where both managers will be looking to make changes from their previous two games. With Darwin Nunez suspended, Roberto Firmino doubtful and Diogo Jota injured, Klopp’s options up front are thin.
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In the opposite dugout, Erik ten Hag must change something after back-to-back defeats for the first time since the 1992/93 season. A big change in personnel and perhaps even system could be seen.
Manchester United
Erik ten Hag’s first game as United boss was against Liverpool where United ran out 4-0 winners. That now seems like a lifetime ago. Good form in pre-season didn’t carry over to the Premier League and United find themselves rock bottom of the Premier League with zero points.
United would start the Premier League season - and Ten Hag’s reign as United manager - with a limp 2-1 defeat to Brighton. Just 45 minutes into what should have been a new era, United found themselves 2-0 down with glaring issues in defence and midfield being prominent - again.
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Cristiano Ronaldo made his return as a second half substitute and United looked better going forward. Marcus Rashford missed two big chances but The Reds would get a goal back through an Alexis Mac Allister own goal with 20 minutes to go. Despite best attempts, it would be a defeat to start the season.
A chance to put things right a week later away to Brentford ended in disaster and one of the most embarrassing defeats in the club’s history. Many have tipped Brentford to go down, citing ‘second season syndrome’.
They didn’t look like a relegation candidate here. Manchester United were hopeless. From the goalkeeper to the forwards. No fight. No desire. It was a nothing performance. United were 4-0 down by the break and it could have comfortably been more.
Dasilva, Jensen, Mee and Mbuemo got the goals and the second half was simply damage limitation for United.
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Since the defeat, there has been a lot of talk in the media. Dressing room arguments, Harry Maguire being dropped and the players not feeling Ten Hag’s system suits them being the key ones.
With Liverpool on the horizon and issues on and off the pitch continuing to mount, this job has already thrown a huge challenge at the United boss to overcome.
Liverpool
You would have got good odds if you said Liverpool wouldn’t pick up a win in their opening two Premier League games. The bad news for United is they’ll be keen to set that right at Old Trafford.
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Liverpool have suffered a lot of injuries so far, which is already reminiscent of their 2020/21 campaign.
Matip, Thiago, Jota and Konate have been the key absences so far whilst Darwin Nunez will be suspended for the next three games after his red card against Crystal Palace.
Liverpool started their campaign away to Fulham at Craven Cottage which ended in a 2-2 draw. Aleksander Mitrovic terrorised the Liverpool backline - Van Dijk in particular - to earn the Premier League newcomers a point. A Darwin Nunez cameo from the bench changed the game for Liverpool, with him scoring and assisting for Mo Salah.
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Liverpool would continue to struggle this past Monday as they welcomed Crystal Palace to Anfield. Despite a lively start from Liverpool, they were always vulnerable to counter attacks with the speed and directness of Eberechi Eze and Wilfried Zaha.
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That’s where Palace would score their goal in the first half to take a 1-0 lead through a smart finish from Wilfried Zaha. Liverpool went down to ten men in the second half. Darwin Nunez was involved in a game-long battle with the impressive Joachim Andersen.
This ultimately led to a scuffle where Nunez lost his cool and headbutted Andersen in direct sight of the referee. Luis Diaz was able to level the scores with a Goal of the Month contender but the points were shared.
Liverpool currently sit in 12th with two points from two games.
Both teams have struggled and are already in danger of losing significant ground on their rivals - even this early. A win would see Manchester United leapfrog Liverpool after their worst start for 30 years.
A draw or loss would likely see United either remain in the relegation zone or rooted to the bottom of the table.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Manchester United, Liverpool, Erik Ten Hag, Darwin Nunez, Cristiano Ronaldo, Premier League