Man Utd haunted by ghosts of last season in pre-season defeat to Liverpool | Football News

Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but defensive injuries, underperforming stars and wasted finishing were Manchester United’s undoing during their final pre-season game.

A 3-0 defeat to Liverpool looks bad and although Erik Ten Hag focused on the positives afterwards, it is clear that there is room for improvement at the start of the season.

Manchester United’s tour of the United States has been full of positivity following Ten Hag’s contract extension, a new coaching staff, changes in senior management and the belief that the squad will be better equipped for the new season.

But on a warm, rainy night in South Carolina, United fans were once again forced to watch the problems they had hoped the club had overcome rear their heads again.

Of the big names on the pitch, only Marcus Rashford showed any attacking flair, nearly scoring the best goal of the warm-up games with an electric turn and a shot that went just wide.

Casemiro, the only outfield player to play the entire game, looked ponderous and vulnerable. Jadon Sancho and Antony offered little in the final third, while Scott McTominay missed his side’s best chance of the second period.

Without Rasmus Hojlund for the start of the season, the pressure is on new striker Joshua Zirkzee to link up with Rashford and bring back Bruno Fernandes as soon as possible.

In defence, Ten Hag insists his team has plenty of options despite another difficult night.

Harry Maguire was left out as a precaution, Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof came off at half-time and Aaron Wan-Bissaka went off with a knock.

Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw and Diego Dalot are all expected back at Carrington next week. They could all be needed in some capacity for this weekend’s Community Shield against Manchester City and certainly beyond.

As for Liverpool, they have won three times against top-flight opponents during their stay in the United States.

Now come the big decisions from coach Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes.

It’s time for the judges to go to the houses: who will they send packing and who will be able to watch the live shows?

We already know that Joe Gomez and Sepp van den Berg are price tags the club would be willing to negotiate, but could Fabio Carvalho’s two goals in two games give him a chance to test the waters in the Premier League?

But what all Liverpool fans want to know now is who will join the club.

Has interest in Anthony Gordon waned or will they revive their June bid? Is Slot happy with the current midfielders playing their double pivot system? Do they want a successor to Virgil van Dijk in defence?

The contract situations of Van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mo Salah will determine how much money is on the table this summer and where Liverpool need to target over the next 12 months.

But if these games in the US have proved anything, it’s that Mo Salah is still the club’s biggest game-changer and they won’t be getting rid of him any time soon.

Man Utd 2024/25 fixture list: Ten Hag starts with Fulham, live on Sky

Manchester United will kick off the 2024/25 Premier League season with a home game against Fulham, live on Sky Sports, and will face Liverpool in the opening month of the season.

The opening game of the new campaign will be played on Friday, August 16, starting at 8pm.

United then travel to Brighton ahead of their first major home derby of the season for Liverpool on Sunday, September 1st.

The return leg will be played in early 2025, with a trip to Anfield on January 4.

Fans will have to wait until December for the first Manchester derby of the season away from home. City of Manchester on December 14. The return leg at Old Trafford will be played on April 5.

Boxing Day will see Man Utd travel to Wolvesand will finish the 2024/25 season at home to Aston Villa on May 25th.

Liverpool fixtures: Reds kick off with trip to Ipswich

Arne Slot begins his Liverpool reign with a lunchtime trip to newly promoted Ipswich Town on the opening Saturday of the 2024/25 Premier League season.

The Dutchman will then face compatriot Erik ten Hag when Liverpool take on their arch-rivals Man Utd at Old Trafford in just his third game in charge of the club, with the match currently scheduled for Saturday 31 August.

The Reds face tough home fixtures to Chelsea and away Arsenal in October, before hosting City of Manchester at the end of November.

The first Merseyside derby of the season takes place at Goodison Park on December 7 as Liverpool start the new year by entertaining Manchester United on January 4th.

Slot’s side travel to the champions on February 22, before the second Merseyside derby of the campaign on April 2 and conclude the season by facing Chelsea (a) and Arsenal (h) in consecutive games in May, with Crystal Palace arriving at Anfield on the final day.