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The stability of energy has undoubtedly shifted in Manchester however the type ebook goes out of the window in a derby.
Liverpool have been on the receiving finish of two transformative performances towards Manchester United since Erik ten Hag’s took cost, and now United want a model of that towards Manchester Metropolis.
In a little bit of constructive historical past underneath Ten Hag, their finest performances have come up in an surprising manner when their backs have been towards the wall and no one expects something of them.
Having stated that, historical past will rely for nothing now, with Erling Haaland and co. trying to hold their exceptional run going, whereas getting the prospect for a press release win towards their massive rivals.
Listed below are the three battles the place the sport can be gained or misplaced for Ten Hag’s men-
Erling Haaland vs Raphael Varane
Generally essentially the most simple reply is the proper one. There’s no have to be tactically intelligent and go for the hipster’s alternative simply to be totally different and sound good.
Erling Haaland scores targets, United concede numerous pictures, that’s a nightmare mixture and a one-way ticket to a loss.
Haaland particularly loves scoring towards United and hit a hattrick on this fixture final yr in a 6-2 win for Guardiola’s males. He comes into the sport scoring 5 towards Luton and maybe extra ominously, linking up properly with Kevin de Bruyne (extra on him later).
Raphael Varane is the chief of the United backline and maybe the one defender proper now who can match Haaland, or at the very least get near him, bodily and in tempo.
He has been an unassuming dependable presence as gamers round him have chopped and adjusted. A frontrunner’s show can be required of him for United to have any probability of a clear sheet within the recreation.
Kevin de Bruyne vs Casemiro
Easy reply quantity 2, and the proper one once more. The De Bruyne-Haaland mixture at all times regarded like a match made in heaven nevertheless it didn’t materialise to that extent till the Luton recreation.
4 assists to the Norwegian by De Bruyne in that recreation got here on the worst attainable time for United.
United’s chaotic urgent off the ball results in the midfield having acres of area. For a participant who wants solely a sliver of it to trigger devastation, De Bruyne could be licking his lips seeing United’s form in defence this yr.
Casemiro has typically been left on an island as each different participant has both been bypassed forward or is operating in the direction of their very own aim behind him.
He might want to have a faultless recreation and roll again the years to carry that midfield collectively. De Bruyne is the lockpicking grasp and United defend with an open gate. You’re up, Casemiro.
Marcus Rashford vs Ruben Dias
For a participant who has typically been labelled as the very best within the league, Ruben Dias has had some curiously mediocre performances towards United.
He’s the defender least comfy in possession and is susceptible to getting outpaced when tasked with defending by way of balls in behind.
If Marcus Rashford can discover some semblance of type that makes him such a menace on transitions, at the very least Metropolis can have one thing to fret about once they inevitably settle right into a rhythm of bossing possession and probing for probabilities.
Rashford additionally has had the tendency to show up for video games towards rivals. In Hojlund’s absence, he hasn’t stepped up in any respect to date. Actions converse louder than phrases and after his latest feedback on how a lot he cares about United, it’s time to indicate it together with his actions.
