Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Graham Roberts has advised Jan Vertonghen to keep quiet about the club’s Wembley advantage in the FA Cup.The North London outfit have been playing all of their home games at the national stadium this season as they wait for their new ground to be built.Initially, the club seemed to be under a Wembley curse as Mauricio Pochettino’s side struggled to win there, but now it has been suggested that the team have the edge when it comes to the FA Cup.The semi-finals and final will be staged at the home of English football, and Tottenham are one of the remaining four teams competing for the trophy.https://video.footballfancast.com/video-2015/twitter-report-1.mp4Pochettino’s men will take on Manchester United in the semi-finals of the competition, and a tweet has been shared online quoting Vertonghen as saying that his team will have the Wembley advantage.
In response, Tottenham’s former defender Roberts has issued the Belgian with a tongue-in-cheek warning.
The uniquely hectic winter schedule is part of what makes the Premier League the most exciting and demanding top flight in world football, and this year it’s thrown up a real gem in Arsenal’s visit to West Ham.
Featuring two London clubs of completely contrasting styles, this fixture often produces memorable moments. But there’s more on the line than ever this year due to the Hammers’ rise to fourth in the Premier League table – a league standing that’s become synonymous with the Gunners over the last decade.
The lower-placed north Londoners will be keen to close the gap on the East London side side, but West Ham will fancy their chances, having won six of their last seven league fixtures at Upton Park.
That being said, fixtures of such festive feistiness are often decided by who dominates the individual battles, so here’s FIVE that could decide the outcome on Sunday.
ANDY CARROLL VS PER MERTESACKER
Anonymous during Arsenal’s 3-2 defeat to Stoke City and out-jumped by Martin Skrtel for a last-minute equalizer against Liverpool, Arsene Wenger has claimed German international Per Mertesacker is struggling for motivation this season after the highs of his World Cup campaign.
But if the BFG found Peter Crouch and Skrtel too tough to contend with in the air, he’s in for an even rougher ride against West Ham. Star striker Andy Carroll, amid a superfluous run of form, has reaffirmed himself as the Premier League’s leading aerial combatant – by quite an incredible distance – since returning from injury in November, as detailed below:
On top of that rather sensational statistic, the England international has rediscovered his scoring touch too – take this beautiful chip against Leicester City for example, making it three goals and one assist in his last three Premier League appearances:
Carrol’s aerial dominance is an inevitability, so for Arsenal’s defenders it’s a case of damage limitation. The Gunners will be hoping Laurent Koscielny can pass a late fitness test – otherwise, they’re set for a troubling mismatch if 5 foot 10 full-back Mathieu Debuchy is called upon as an emergency centre-half again.
STEWART DOWNING VS MATHIEU FLAMINI
Stewart Downing is enjoying a new lease of life in central attacking midfield and arguably the most productive form of his career, grabbing a talismanic four goals and six assists in 16 Premier League outings. It would be naive to think the England international isn’t capable of hurting Arsenal – currently, only Chelsea’s Cesc Fabregas is creating more chances per match in the Premier League than the 30 year-old, as detailed below:
He’ll be directly up against Mathieu Flamini, who understandably took a lot of criticism for Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool last weekend. The Frenchman is a shadow of the player of his original Gunners tenure but hardly received adequate support from midfield partners Santi Cazorla and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at Anfield.
Even so, with Mikel Arteta, Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil all absent until the New Year, the ad-hoc situation in the middle of the park is unlikely to change any time soon.
Flamini really needs to up his game when facing West Ham, having failed to make a single successful tackle and recorded a pass completion rate of just 73% against Liverpool, or it will be another afternoon of Downing delight for the East Londoners.
ALEXIS SANCHEZ VS GUY DEMEL
A highly versatile and talented attacker, it remains to be seen how Arsene Wenger will opt to utilise £35million signing Alexis Sanchez against West Ham.
But he’s been Arsenal’s most potent entity going forward this season by quite some distance, as detailed below:
And for that reason alone, it’s likely he’ll be deployed against Hammers right-back veteran Guy Demel.
Gunners loanee Carl Jenkinson has emerged as the first choice No.2 at Upton Park this season, but unavailable to play against his parent club, the 33 year-old will assumedly be thrust back into first team affairs.
He’s certainly got the trust of Sam Allardyce, having served under him for three-and-a-half campaigns. But general ring-rust, having not started a fixture since September, in addition to Demel’s naturally waning pace, makes him a weak link in West Ham’s otherwise resolute defence.
If Sanchez brings his A-game, he’ll run rings around the retired Ivory Coast international all afternoon.
ALEX SONG VS SANTI CAZORLA
With Arsenal’s injury issues seemingly having no end, Santi Cazorla looks set to retain the No.10 role for the Gunners’ visit to Upton Park.
The Spain international’s never quite rekindled the form of his inaugural Premier League season but has put in a number of decent performances this term – particularly against Newcastle where he netted a brace, including this cheeky penalty:
His ambipedial feet should be a huge advantage in the central role – providing he can get past West Ham’s Alex Song.
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There’s subplots here aplenty; of course, the Cameroon midfielder is a former Gunner and will keen to impress against his former club, but the story is further enriched by recent criticisms of Wenger’s decision not to re-sign the Barcelona loanee during the summer, despite Arsenal’s obvious need for a holding midfielder.
Instead, Song’s class, quality and experience has brought West Ham to a whole new level and he’s already become a leader amongst their starting XI.
This is Song’s opportunity to prove Wenger wrong – so Cazorla should expect the African enforcer to be in top form.
OLIVIER GIROUD VS WINSTON REID
Olivier Giroud is proving himself to be more vital to the Arsenal cause than ever this season, with five goals in just eight Premier League appearances. The Frenchman’s scored past Liverpool, Manchester United, Everton and Newcastle this term, perhaps dispelling the myth that he struggles to perform against the bigger clubs.
West Ham are a rather different proposition however, and it’s the 28 year-old’s ruggedness, rather than his quality, that Arsenal require most on their East London visit.
Centre-back Winston Reid is one of the Premier League’s best outside of the top four – he’s even been linked with a move to the Emirates in January – with an incredible physical presence and a simple-yet-effective style.
He’ll give Giroud little room for manoeuvre and will likely dominate in the air. But if Arsenal are to generate anything going forward, the France international must hold off the New Zealand skipper as much as possible to bring the Gunners’ impressive midfield talents into the game.
Failing to do so, and it will be eternally difficult for the north Londoners to get forward with any pace or intent.
Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew was shocked by the news that club captain Fabricio Coloccini wants to leave the club in January, as reported by The Independent.
Coloccini’s demands are just another blow to Newcastle and Pardew who are just two points above the Premier League relegation zone and without an away win all season ahead of their visit to Norwich this afternoon.
The Argentinian defender has reported personal problems and wants to head back to South America and join boyhood club San Lorenzo this month.
The 30-year-old was set to lead the team out at Carrow Road today but it is yet to be seen what frame of mind he and his manager will be in going into the vital Premier League clash.
If Coloccini does push through the move, Newcastle will be left with very little defensive cover and will need to sign at least one defender in this window or face a long second half of the season.
Steven Taylor is still injured and so Mike Williamson would be the only recognised central defender at the club but freeing up Coloccini’s high wages could give Pardew some extra funds to spend.
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Eric Bailly made his first league start since November as he was thrust back into first-team action by Jose Mourinho for Manchester United’s crunch clash with Liverpool on Saturday.
Victor Lindelof put in a nervous performance in the Red Devils’ previous match, the dramatic 3-2 win over Crystal Palace, and Mourinho’s decision to throw Bailly back in despite a lack of match sharpness was justified as United largely nullified Liverpool’s previously rampant attack and won 2-1.
That victory was secured despite Bailly – valued at £31.5m by transfermarkt – contriving to score a bizarre own goal, when the Ivorian’s failure to reorganise his feet saw him divert an unthreatening Sadio Mane cross past David De Gea.
Bailly’s pace, anticipation and confidence gave United an extra dimension and allowed them to keep the Reds’ attack at arm’s length for much of the match as they invited Jurgen Klopp’s side forward with an advantage to protect.
He impressed in all areas of the game, making six interceptions and seven clearances to go with the winning of two tackles and three headers. United employed a no-thrills gameplan but his passing was still reliable, with a success rate of 84.2%.
Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling as well as the aforementioned Lindelof have all been at the heart of a patchwork United defence this season but Bailly is a level above. Mourinho will hope to have him available for the rest of the season.
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Arsenal, and in particular Arsene Wenger, has been facing a large amount of criticism from the fans in recent weeks as the club with many calling for major signings to be made in January.
The Gunners have been very poor defensively so far this season in the Premier League with a number of injuries causing Wenger’s back line selection to be very limited – so expect a few new additions in that area.
Focusing on the Spanish La Liga, here are FIVE players that can help the squad reach the level everybody is expecting to see at the Emirates.
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Sami Khedira
Name: Sami Khedira
Age: 27
Position: Defensive Midfield
Nationality: Germany
Club: Real Madrid
Price: £10 – £15 million
Sami Khedira is currently being tracked by a host of Premier League clubs with Chelsea, Manchester City, and Manchester United all keen signing the midfielder. He has generally been overlooked at Real Madrid and could be very interested in joining a team that can offer him first team football.
His contract expires at the end of this season and if Madrid cannot extend his deal, they could risk him leaving for free unless they sell him in January instead. It is likely that Khedira will be a subject of a bidding war once the transfer window opens at the start of the new year.
Grzegorz Krychowiak
Name: Grzegorz Krychowiak
Age: 24
Position: Defensive Midfield
Nationality: Poland
Club: Sevilla
Price: £20 – £25 million
Grzegorz Krychowiak is another defensive midfield player Arsene Wenger is keeping tabs on as he continues his search to ensure some stability in front of his already struggling back four. The Sevilla man is one of the many players the club has been tracking in order to replace Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini, both of whom have been average at best this season.
Krychowiak is a regular for Sevilla, featuring in all 14 matches for his side so far this season and could be seen as the perfect fit for Wenger’s formation due to his high work rate. Centre-back is arguably the position where the Gunners are weakest, however signing an anchorman would go a long way to making Arsenal competitive at the top of the Premier League again.
Alessio Cerci
Name: Alessio Cerci
Age: 27
Position: Attacking Midfield / Forward
Nationality: Italy
Club: Atletico Madrid
Price: £16 million
With Alessio Cerci unable to break into the Atletico Madrid first team, it is believed that he has been placed on the transfer list with the club likely to accept any offers of around the same price they paid Torino for his services.
He has made five substitute appearances this season, failing to start a single match with a number of European clubs beginning to monitor his situation. Cerci scored 13 and provided 10 the previous season in Serie A, but has failed to live up to his name upon his arrival in Spain.
Aymeric Laporte
Name: Aymeric Laporte
Age: 20
Position: Centre Back
Nationality: France
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Club: Athletic Bilbao
Price: £32 million (release clause)
At only 20 years of age, Aymeric Laporte has already secured his first team status in the heart of Athletic Bilbao’s back line and is being tracked by Manchester United and Arsenal. Both the Gunners and the Red Devils see the French defender as a player who could grow into a vital members of their respective squads.
However, Bilbao are looking for a huge sum in order to allow negotiations to take place as they have set the release clause at £32million, a very high price for a young defender. Arsene Wenger will consider this one carefully before splashing the cash, but the club are in desperate need of another quality centre-back.
Raphael Varane
Name: Raphael Varane
Age: 21
Position: Centre-back
Nationality: France
Club: Real Madrid
Price: £28 – £32 million
Very similar to Aymeric Laporte, Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane is another defender that has proven to be already well on the way to becoming part of the next generation of world class centre-backs, and is likely to be open to a La Liga exit because he is getting very little playing time under Carlo Ancelotti.
Should he move to Arsenal, Varane would immediately claim a place in the starting XI. He is already a first teamer in the French national side, and unless Madrid can guarantee his future role, they risk losing a very talented player.
Over the fifty years of its history, the League Cup and especially this season’s Capital One Cup, has seen more than its fair share of last-minute drama – and since the turn of the 21st century, every season seems to have been littered with late, late winning goals. With the advent of the extra-time period to replace replays, we now have the opportunity for two separate periods of last-minute drama in the same game (see Reading v Arsenal this season) to keep fans of the League Cup entertained.
This list includes some of the most famous last-gasp goals in the League Cup’s recent history, as well as one or two game-winning blasts from the past. There’s everyone from Arsenal to Derby County and Luton Town represented, so whether you cheer the Goliath or the underdog, this list is for you…
Click on Theo Walcott to see the full countdown of last-gasp goals
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Manchester United host bitter rivals Liverpool on Saturday in a battle that has taken on extra significance with the two sides so tightly matched in the race for second place.
Liverpool undoubtedly play the more attractive football and Jurgen Klopp has fashioned a frightening attack while Jose Mourinho is still struggling to transform his star-studded frontline into a cohesive unit.
That makes looking at the individual quality of the players quite interesting as Liverpool have not spent to the same degree as United but appear to be working in better harmony.
A combined eleven between the two clubs might still struggle to catch Manchester City but it would certainly give it a good go.
FootballFanCast have put together a combination in a 4-3-3 system – so Paul Pogba can have no complaints about his best position – with six representatives of one club and five of the other.
But which side comes out on top? Take a look…
GK: David de Gea
Soccer Football – Premier League – Liverpool vs Manchester United – Anfield, Liverpool, Britain – October 14, 2017 Manchester United’s David De Gea applauds the fans at the end of the match Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact y
It’s no contest to start off with. De Gea has been constantly outstanding for five seasons now; saving United countless times and surely establishing himself as the best goalkeeper in the world.
The Liverpool goalkeeping situation has been well-documented. Both Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius oscillate between the sublime and the nervous but the German has stepped up his game in recent weeks and pulled off an outstanding save against Newcastle last weekend.
As the younger man, he represents the better bet if Klopp is to rectify his goalkeeping issues from within but he isn’t in De Gea’s league right now. Although that begs the question, is any other goalkeeper?
RB: Antonio Valencia
This one is a toss-up between youth and experience. With Nathaniel Clyne having been ruled out all season, Klopp has overseen the emergence of two very promising English right-backs.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was thrust into the corresponding fixture last season and marshalled Anthony Martial impressively while Joe Gomez was man of the match in this season’s 0-0 draw between the two at Anfield.
However, Antonio Valencia has become a fixture in the United backline in recent years. He gets up and down the right well, generally delivers with quality and has scored some screamers this season. He just about gets the nod.
CB: Virgil Van Dijk
Eyebrows might have been raised over the transfer fee paid by the Reds for Virgil Van Dijk but he is the best centre-back either side has at their disposal.
Liverpool have had issues at centre-back since Rafael Benitez left the club but it looks like the Reds have finally found the answer in the shape of the Dutchman.
Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren marshalled Romelu Lukaku with relative ease earlier in the season and while the Belgian striker is in better form now, Van Dijk will fancy his chances of keeping him quiet.
CB: Eric Bailly
Bailly has struggled badly with injury this season and there is little doubt it has hampered United this season. He is easily the best centre-back at the club and his return to full fitness cannot come soon enough.
He has been on the bench in recent weeks, watching on as Chris Smalling delivers nervous performances alongside Victor Lindelof.
He has the pace, power and quality to make a real difference to the United backline when he’s fit.
LB: Andy Robertson
It is easy to forget that James Milner had to fill in at left-back for a whole season last time around so the arrival of Andy Robertson at Anfield was genuinely exciting.
He took a little while to find his feet but his form over the past three months has been outstanding. Meanwhile, United have been using another former Aston Villa midfielder as a makeshift left-back – Ashley Young – ahead of Luke Shaw, who still can’t impress Mourinho.
CDM: Nemanja Matic
Matic netted his first Manchester United goal against Crystal Palace last time out, a stunner to grab all three points in stoppage time.
With Michael Carrick’s influence waning badly, Matic has brought a steadiness and positional discipline to the United midfield.
Emre Can and Jordan Henderson offer energy at the back of midfield but still leave the back four exposed at times, which means the former Chelsea man gets the nod in the holding role.
CM: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Soccer Football – Premier League – Liverpool vs Manchester City – Anfield, Liverpool, Britain – January 14, 2018 Liverpool’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Phil Noble EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representa
Chamberlain moved to Liverpool because he wanted to play in central midfield and develop under Jurgen Klopp, after years of being shunted around under Arsene Wenger, which caused his progression to stall.
He has forced his way to the front of the queue at Anfield, despite the energetic and talented midfielders at the club and gets into this team ahead of Ander Herrera and Scott McTominay.
That is testament to a man who has come on further in six months under Klopp than in years under Wenger.
CM: Paul Pogba
He isn’t enjoying the best of times right now but Pogba is the most talented midfielder on either squad.
He gets into this side on the left side of a midfield trio – his supposed best position – and Mourinho must be hoping he will come good if he continues to play there.
He needs a big performance against Liverpool and it would go a long way to silencing the ever-increasing number of doubters.
RW: Mo Salah
Soccer Football – Premier League – Liverpool vs West Ham United – Anfield, Liverpool, Britain – February 24, 2018 Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Peter Powell EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account
What else can be said about Salah that hasn’t been said already? His goalscoring return dwarfs Luis Suarez best season at Anfield and he is on course to match the form of Cristiano Ronaldo when he scored 42 goals for United and won the Ballon d’Or in 2008.
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Signed for £36.9m – but now valued at £72m by transfermarkt.co.uk – he has to be the signing of the summer by far. Whoever Mourinho chooses to go up against him – Ashley Young or Luke Shaw – will be in for a long afternoon.
He and De Gea are this team’s star men.
LW: Alexis Sanchez
Soccer Football – FA Cup Fourth Round – Yeovil Town vs Manchester United – Huish Park, Yeovil, Britain – January 26, 2018 Manchester United’s Alexis Sanchez waves to the fans as he is substituted off Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
It was always going to take a lot to break up the outstanding Reds front three but Alexis Sanchez’ individual talent edges out Sadio Mane.
He has struggled to integrate himself into United’s attack – which doubtless owes a lot to the fact that it doesn’t really have an identity – but he is capable of winning games on his own.
He is tireless and Mourinho will love that about him. He was the man Brendan Rodgers wanted to replace the aforementioned Suarez and things could have been very different if he’d got him.
ST: Roberto Firmino
Soccer Football – Premier League – Liverpool vs West Ham United – Anfield, Liverpool, Britain – February 24, 2018 Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino scores their third goal REUTERS/Peter Powell EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representa
Romelu Lukaku has been in improved form for United but there are still issues with his hold-up play, his first touch, his overall contribution in big matches and his composure.
Meanwhile, Firmino is so important to this Liverpool side. He can come short, he can go in behind, he starts the press and never gives defenders a moment’s peace.
If he was United’s main striker, he would have more goals than Lukaku has amassed this season.
It’s already been a rather interesting season for Manchester United as they adapt to life with Louis van Gaal in the dugout.
The former champions broke the Premier League’s records for individual transfer fees and the amount spent by one club in a single window during the summer, but that was quickly juxtaposed by poor results against Burnley, MK Dons in the Capital One Cup and Leicester City.
As the Red Devils currently find themselves in fourth place however, following impressive wins against West Ham and Everton, there’s a new feeling of optimism around Old Trafford.
That’s shared in the Football FanCast office, to such an extent that we’ve decided to conjure up this list of the FIVE signs that Manchester United WILL qualify for the Champions League – their ultimate aim this season.
So without further ado…
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GOALS
Football – Manchester United v Everton – Barclays Premier League – Old Trafford – 5/10/14Manchester United’s Radamel Falcao celebrates scoring their second goalMandatory Credit: Action Images / Jason CairnduffLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account rep
Manchester United’s defensive frailties are well-known and widely documented but there’s no questioning their strength at the other end of the pitch, with an incredible attacking cast including the likes of Angel Di Maria, Juan Mata, Radamel Falcao, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie.
They’ve netted 13 times already this season, averaging out at 1.8 goals per game. As viewable below, that return is only betted by Chelsea and Manchester City:
In prior campaigns, such an imbalanced starting XI would only work against the Red Devils. But over the course of the last few years, the Premier League has become engulfed in a goal-friendly culture; in 2010 Chelsea bagged the most goals scored in a single season (103), in 2012 the title was decided on goal difference alone, and last term, two clubs – City and Liverpool – reached triple figures in the league.
Indeed, it appears resolute defending has taken a backward step throughout the top flight for the sake of proficiency going forward, something United currently possess in abundance. Falcao got off the mark with his first Premier League goal against Everton:
Whilst Angel Di Maria has already bagged three goals in just five appearances, but more about the Argentine maestro later.
Unknown quantity
Manchester United’s prolific goal-getting makes them very much an unknown quantity, a side other Premier League clubs will struggle to accurately prepare for.
After all, what will the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal truly be facing in the coming weeks? The old, rugged, determined United? The new breed of world-class attackers? Or a shambolic XI of youngsters and foreigners, still searching for balance, leadership and familiarity? Are they genuine title contenders, or just this season’s entertainers?
The unpredictability of results thus far under Louis van Gaal – the shock defeats to Mk Dons and Leicester City, a 4-0 thrashing in the Capital One Cup and a 5-3 comeback in the league respectively – and the immeasurable power of United’s history, further adds to the feeling of ambiguity.
They’ve already employed two completely different systems this year – a 4-1-2-1-2 and a 3-4-3 – and United’s starting Xi is absolutely bursting with match-winners – players who can turn a game on its head in an instant.
Yet to face a major opponent, the element of surprise currently accompanying United will keep the Premier League’s top clubs attempting to second-guess them.
Divisional rivals struggling for form
Take another look at the Premier League table:
Right now, Everton, Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs, who were all in the race for last year’s Champions League spots, are collectively struggling for consistency and form.
The Toffees for example, are just two points clear of the relegation zone, whilst Arsenal have only won twice from seven fixtures.
Of course, at this point in the season there’s still just a handful of points separating the vast majority of sides, with ten point gap between the relegation spots and Manchester City in second.
But the point remains that the stage is set for United to assert their dominance early-on whilst their divisional rivals are still finding their feet.
Whether the Red Devils can hold onto their current position of fourth however will largely depend on results in the coming weeks, as they take on Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal before the end of November.
ANGEL DI MARIA
It would be wrong and wholly inaccurate to describe Manchester United as a one-man team, but if there’s one player who’s currently head and shoulders above the rest, it’s summer signing Angel Di Maria.
Indeed, the Argentina international has been nothing short of incredible since United signed him for a record-breaking £59million, as shown below:
Whoscored.com have put him in their European Team of the Season thus far:
…in no small part due to some incredible goals, such as this one against Leicester City back in September:
Unquestionably the most in-form midfielder the Premier League currently has to offer, if the Red Devils can keep the 26 year-old firing for the majority of the season, they’ve got a fantastic chance of qualifying for the Champions League.
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Recent wins
Less than a month ago, following a 0-0 draw with Burnley and a 5-3 defeat to Leicester City, it looked like the Red Devils were in for another tough campaign.
But recent results, specifically wins against West Ham and Everton, have changed all that. Not only because they constituted Manchester United’s first consecutive victories under Louis van Gaal, but due to the impressive quality of the opposition.
Judging by the series of shrewd signings Sam Allardyce made this summer, including Alex Song, Enner Valencia, Ryan Cresswell, Diafra Sakho and Cheikhou Kouyate to name a few, in combination with their positive start to the season, the Hammers look set for a top half finish this season. They’ve already recorded a 3-1 victory over Liverpool at Upton Park, the highlights of which are viewable below:
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Likewise, Everton have endured a poor start to the campaign, but they’re a strong outfit and based on their league standing over the last ten years, remain the essential litmus test for clubs looking to qualify for the Champions League. As shown in the highlights below, Manchester United impressed as they fought to a 2-1 victory over the Toffees.
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In other words, West Ham and Everton are the calibre of side Manchester United should be beating if they’re to make it into the top four. As previously mentioned however, the real test comes between now and the end of November, as the Red Devils face Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal.
Manchester City had to settle for a point as they continued their unbeaten start to the season against Everton at the Etihad Stadium.
Roberto Mancini has now won just once in seven meetings against the Toffees since arriving in the blue half of Manchester, but will the draw as two points lost having won six out of seven games on home soil.
The Merseyside club have stuttered of late following a blistering start to the campaign, sharing the spoils for a third game in succession and haven’t tasted victory since beating Sunderland on 10 November.
Goalscoring opportunities were few and far between as both sides adopted a cautious approach during the opening phase of the game.
And it was the visitors to strike first blood in the 33rd minute, Marouane Fellaini needing to bites of the cherry to beat Joe Hart, bundling the ball home with his thigh after the City keeper had saved his header from Leighton Baines’ cross.
The hosts responded in robust fashion and went close to an equaliser when Tim Howard clawed Edin Dzeko’s strike round the post before the Bosnian won his side a penalty two minutes shy of the half time, going to ground after Fellaini tugged his shirt in the area.
Referee Lee Probert immediately pointed to the spot and Carlos Tevez stepped up to beat Howard from 12 yards, firing the ball straight down the centre.
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Fellaini then forced Hart into a low save just before the break but it proved to be Everton’s last clear cut chance of the game as they struggled to contain the home side in the second half.
Howard did well to keep out a powerful, swerving effort from Maicon with Mancini sending Sergio Aguero on for Carlos Tevez with 20 minutes to go but the Argentinian couldn’t provide the inspiration to find a winner.
Manchester United fans were impressed by Victor Lindelof’s performance against Germany on Saturday night, despite his Sweden side falling to a late defeat against the reigning World Cup champions.
Germany are almost unstoppable in tournament mode and so it proved on Saturday, coming from behind to win 2-1 after a pulsating and dramatic 90 minutes.
One of the top performers on the pitch was Man United’s powerful defender Lindelof, who generally coped with the German attack well all evening, keeping the likes of Timo Werner quiet.
Lindelof had a difficult debut season at Old Trafford last term, making just 13 Premier League starts, but fans are now calling him to get a regular game next season.
Many would love to see him form a defensive partnership with Eric Bailly, believing that pairing is the future of the Red Devils defence.
Can the Swede cement a spot in Jose Mourinho’s starting eleven?
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