Manchester United vs. Liverpool: Preview, Confirmed Lineup

Manchester United versus Liverpool has never been any trickier than it is this season as both teams start on equal grounds following the exit of Liverpool’s former manager, Jurgen Klopp.

With a new dawn facing the Merseyside Reds, its herald, Arne Slot sees his first real test as a football manager; facing his compatriot Erik ten Hag. We can even go as far as redubbing the Manchester United versus Liverpool rivalry as the derby of the Bald Dutchmen, and it would very much be a fitting title.

But we aren’t here for fitting titles are we?

With an age long history following this fixture, the narratives surrounding this game is enormous. Erik ten Hag unwittingly is under pressure to deliver after last weekend’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion and a season ago of finishing 8th in the premier league table.

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For Arne Slot, despite winning two opening premier league fixtures, no one is thinking much of the Dutchman considering Ipswich Town and Brentford were games Liverpool are expected to win traditionally.

Hence, this game holds as much importance to both managers who would want to make their first mark of the season, and in Slot’s case, his first mark in the English Premier League. Of course, whether not verbally stated, there is the unwritten rule that ‘to be taken seriously, you have to first take down the big guy’. For the former Feyenoord boss, Manchester United is as much the opportunity to renew the fear factor that Jurgen Klopp brought to the Reds.

There is also the first blood Erik ten Hag drew towards the tail end of last season when he blatantly laid a jab at Arne Slot after the confirmation that his compatriot would be replacing Jurgen Klopp. For some, Ten Hag’s statement were unnecessary. Hence, it will be interesting to see how Erik ten Hag approaches this game and if the pressure will get to him in making a decision.

For one, Erik ten Hag cannot allow a newbie in the premier league and in English football to travel to Old Trafford and steal all 3-points from his team, for another, the former Ajax manager has a lot to prove to himself and the world. ‘Walk the talk’ they say, and last season Ten Hag made the talk, now he has to walk it.

Manchester United versus Liverpool now stands a battle royale as a new dawn sets for the North West derby. A face off between England’s most decorated clubs.

Whatever the outcome may be, the first battle starts in the first XI that both managers lineup, then the tactics.