Three points on Manchester United next Premier League matchup 0n the road at Everton.
This will be another test of United’s physicality. They weren’t up to it against Hull City in the first gameweek, and have generally not been up to it away from home. United have two ways to combat this: make it less of a physical game or match the opposition’s physicality.
Playing Lisandro Martinez and Kobbie Mainoo helped last week, as they were able to slow things down without negatively affecting United’s preference for a faster tempo. United could also do what many other teams are doing by playing centre-backs at full-back.
Michael Carrick has gone down this route at times in preseason by playing Leny Yoro at right-back, where he looked all right. In fact, without Iliman Ndiaye, Everton don’t possess a great 1v1 threat on the wings, so this might be the way to go against sides that are physical but don’t have much imagination down the wings.
Marcus Rashford, Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, and Bryan Mbeumo have a bit of everything for a forward line. They started together last week, and it’s fair to say that all four impressed. All four have goals in them and can pick a pass. There’s enough speed in there, but perhaps not enough strength. If they can do a job defensively, which was on show last weekend, then something special could be brewing here.
United have conceded two goals in each game to newly promoted sides. There’s no excusing that; it’s not good enough. Michael Carrick will have to formulate a plan for this season, and the players themselves have to make it one of their objectives heading into this tie.