Derby day fireworks as off-form Manchester clubs seek statement EPL win
Many of the top clubs in England will field their new signings this weekend
THE English Premier League (EPL) resumes normal service this weekend after the first international break of the season. The summer transfer window closed at the start of this month with the league’s 20 teams collectively splashing out in excess of £3 billion (S$5.2 billion) on new players, and many of these fresh signings will be in action right away.
The big spender in the closing moments of trading were none other than champions Liverpool, which finally secured the signature of Swedish striker Alexander Isak from Newcastle United for a British record transfer fee of £125 million.
After orchestrating a difficult exit from the Magpies, the 25-year-old hotshot is expected to make his debut in Liverpool’s famous red jersey against Burnley on Sunday (Sep 14, 9 pm kickoff, Singapore time).
Liverpool are the only side in the top division with a perfect start to their season so far, winning their first three league matches. With Isak set to lead the attack, it’s little wonder that the Reds remain the bookmakers’ favourites to retain their trophy.
Red Devils still rebuilding
The most high-profile fixture of the weekend, however, takes place at the 53,400-seater Etihad Stadium in Manchester where the city’s two biggest clubs – City and United – will do battle in the 197th Manchester derby (Sunday 11.30 pm kickoff).
It’s been a rocky start to the season for Manchester United, with manager Ruben Amorim tasting victory in their fourth match, and even so that 3-2 win at home over Burnley was secured only with a controversial Bruno Fernandes penalty deep into injury time.
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Still, it’s somewhat of a surprise to see the Red Devils above their crosstown rivals in the EPL standings. United have four points, while City have just three after losing two games.
One thing’s for certain is that Amorim will have to decide who will be his new starting goalkeeper from now on, after the recent departure of the much-maligned Andre Onana on a season-long loan to Turkish side Trabzonspor.
The Portuguese manager announced on Friday that he will field the often shaky Altay Bayindir in his starting line-up, which means the 23-year-old Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who only arrived at Old Trafford on transfer deadline day, will have to wait to make his debut.
United’s other new signings in the summer have also not yet shown their true potential. Bryan Mbuemo netted his first league goal against Burnley, while Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha are yet to find the back of the net.
Cunha has been one of his club’s most forceful attackers but he will sit this big match out due to a hamstring problem he picked up against Burnley a fortnight ago.
United ended last season in a dismal 15th place and what’s clear is that Amorim will need to improve on that position drastically this season in order to keep his job.
City to bounce back
Pep Guardiola is a manager who isn’t very used to losing, but his Manchester City side have to rebound quickly after suffering two consecutive league defeats – at home to Tottenham Hotspur and away to Brighton.
All eyes are also on who Guardiola decides to put in goal after the departure of Ederson and the eleventh-hour signing of Italian Gianluigi Donnarumma from European champions Paris Saint-Germain.
The 26-year-old Donnarumma joined in a £26 million move from the French giants and he’s already declared that he wants to help his new team win the Champions League this season.
“It is one of our goals, I’m not going to hide it,” he said in an interview shortly after arriving at the Etihad Stadium. “Lifting the Champions League trophy with City would be a dream for me. I think the Champions League is the best trophy for a football player. It was an indescribable emotion (winning it with PSG in May).”
Up front, Guardiola will also be banking on his star striker Erling Haaland to replicate his stunning international form on the EPL stage.
The Norwegian scored five times for his country in an 11-1 rout of Moldova on Tuesday – the most he has ever bagged for Norway in a single match and the most by a European man in a World Cup qualifier since Austria’s Hans Krankl set the record of six against Malta back in 1977.
With City’s lethal attack against an extremely porous United defence, the stage is set for fans to witness a goal feast on Sunday.
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