Manchester United’s injury plagued squad will on Sunday have to be at the top of their wits if they are to avoid a humiliation akin to the 3-6 reverse they endured at the hands of Manchester City on their last visit to Etihad Stadium. Premier League top scorer Erling Braut Haaland, who was plunderer in chief on that day with a hat trick and assists king Kevin de Bruyne, have both hit peak form.
Haaland on Tuesday became the first player to score five goals for the same team twice – he also bagged an identical figure against RB Leipzig last season – when he bludgeoned five past Luton Town in a 6-2 victory. Four of those goals were created by De Bruyne, who is back to his mercurial best after missing the first half of the season sidelined by injury.
In the absence of former captain Harry Maguire who joined long term absentees Lisandro Martinez, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia on the sidelines, the onus of stopping Haaland, Phil Foden and de Bruyne will fall on World Cup winning defender Raphael Varane, Jonny Evans and Victor Linderof.
Erik Ten Hag’s record champions will only have a chance to atone for last Saturday’s lacklustre display in a 1-2 loss to Fulham if that trio together with Casemiro and keeper Andre Onana deliver their A+ game. Casemiro’s protection for the back four and leadership are critical especially since he lines up along 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo in defensive midfield.
Leaders Liverpool showed great squad depth by edging Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final with one of their youngest ever line ups, then repeating the feat in disposing of Southampton 3-0 in the FA Cup. 18-year-olds Jayden Danns and Lewis Koumas who scored against the Saints should drop to the bench for Saturday’s early kick off at Nuno Espirito Santo’s Nottingham Forest.
Darwin Nunez, Mohamed Salah and Dominic Szoboszlai have an outside chance of joining Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz in attack but Trent Alexander Arnold, Curtis Jones, Stefan Bajcetic, Diogo Jota Joel Matip, Wataru Endo and keeper Alisson Becker remain sidelined. Third placed Arsenal have no such injury concerns for Monday’s trip to bottom club Sheffield United.
SATURDAY
Nottingham Forest v Liverpool,
Fulham v Brighton,
Newcastle United v Wolves,
Everton v West Ham United,
Brentford v Chelsea,
Luton Town v Aston Villa
SUNDAY
Manchester City v Manchester United
MONDAY
Sheffield United v Arsenal
