Even David Moyes winced when he saw Erik ten Hag’s start at Man Utd. Also: Liverpool’s post-Champions League stitch up, Ralph Hasenhuttl could be gone by September, and more…
Yer Da might tell you that every one plays everyone else twice but the newly published Premier League fixtures require plenty more context.
Here are 10 things that jumped out at us…
1) Let’s start with Manchester United since no manager will be under more scrutiny once the season kicks off…
‘Erik ten Hag handed dream start’ was the Daily Mail‘s initial reaction to United being pitted against Brighton and Brentford in their first two games, presumably forgetting the humping the Red Devils received on the south coast at the end of last season. Then Liverpool come to Old Trafford in Ten Hag’s second home game which gives the new manager very little time to prep for one of his toughest tests of the season, especially if United continue to fanny around in the transfer market. The window will still be open by that point and it there’s little encouragement that United will have conducted their business before Jurgen Klopp and co. rock up looking to embarrass United again.
If August is tricky for Ten Hag, October is an absolute head-f*ck. United will have to fit three Europa League group games around six Premier League fixtures, beginning with a Manchester derby at the Etihad and featuring a trip to Chelsea straight after the midweek visit of Tottenham. Before the end of October, in his first 13 games, Ten Hag will have faced all of United’s Big Six rivals as well as having gone to Leicester and Everton.
The new manager will surely learn from David Moyes’ mistake when he whined about his start to life as United boss. “It’s the hardest start for 20 years that United have had… I find it hard to believe that’s the way the balls came out of the bag,” said Moyes before the opening day, which set the tone for his reign. Ten Hag needs to embrace the challenge and hope the hierarchy furnishes the squad with the players they need, and fast.
2) The toughest start? Palace and Bournemouth.
Patrick Vieira’s side host Arsenal in the league’s curtain-raiser before going to Liverpool. Then they welcome Villa before heading to Manchester City. Newly-promoted Bournemouth have exactly the same four fixtures in a different order.
Arsenal, Liverpool & Manchester City in our first four games? We get 6 points from that lot and I”ll be limbering up for a European…
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