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It does notfeel like it hasbeen away for long, but the Premier League is back.Just shy of the competitions 30th anniversary, the action gets underway a week earlier than usual as club football attempts to Kenny Lofton Jersey adjust to the upcoming mid-season World Cup in Qatar.Narratives galore have emerged over the pre-season, but in terms of opening-weekend curiosity, it isfair to suggest Old Trafford will attract more than its fair share of intrigued glances.Another new era begins at Manchester United on Sunday as Erik ten Hag takes charge of his first competitive match at the club.Theres a long list of managers who have failed to bring sustained succe s to United since Alex Fergusons retirement nine years ago Ten Hag will hope he can buck the trend, and he begins with the visit of Brighton and Hove Albion. New beginningsTen Hags April appointment came amid gloomy days at Old Trafford. Ralf Rangnicks spell as interim manager was proving tumultuous, with the German Abraham Almonte Jersey as familiar to criticising the clubs structure as he was presiding over underwhelming performances.United had been dumped out of the Champions League by an unimpre sive Atletico Madrid side, and that began something of a downward spiral, with hopes of a top-four finish quickly diminishing.Now, Ten Hag will be the eighth manager including caretaker/interim bo ses to take charge of United since Ferguson left.At least the short-term omens are good: of the previous seven managers, only Ten Hags compatriot Louis van Gaal failed to win his opening match, losing 2-1 to Swansea City.It will take a Joe Carter Jersey lot more than one win over Brighton to bring the good times back to Old Trafford, however.Ronaldo: Apoint to prove and a milestone within reachOf course, one of the major sideshows for United in pre-season has been Cristiano Ronaldo.Reports claimed he wanted to leave for a Champions League club andhe did notjoin United on their pre-season tour of Australia and Thailand. This was put down to personal reasons.But no such move away has so farmaterialised, and so he was welcomed back into the fold before playing 45 minutes against Rayo Vallecano last weekend. Cue more controversy, as he and several other United players left early, which Ten Hag later called unacceptable.Given the circus around Ronaldo in recent times, at any other club you wouldexpect him to be dropped for this game yet, with Anthony Martial out injured, Ronaldo looks likely to start, and few would put it past him making the occasion about himself again.After all, hes only three away from his 500th career league goal. He couldnt, could he?A score to settleBrighton and United played each other quite recently. Well, recently in competitive action terms, anyway.The Red Devils penultimate game of last season was at the Amex Stadium, and Seagulls fans will remember it fondly as they ran out crushing 4-0 winners.That was Brightons Cleveland Indians Hoodie biggest top-flight win ever in their 356th match at that level, while it inflicted a fifth succe sive away defeat for United, their worst such run since 1981.Winning at Old Trafford is another matter entirely, though Brighton have never won there. IfUnited do lose, they will have suffered three consecutive Premier League defeats for the first time in seven years.Good habitsWhile that May encounter was a game to forget for United and Bruno Fernandes, the playmaker does have a good track record against Sundays opponents.In five league meetings with Brighton,Fernandes has been involved in six goals (four goals, two a sists), which make the Seagulls his second-favourite opposition, behindLeeds United (eight goal involvements).Similarly, Brightons Pascal Gro s has done well against United in the past.His four goals versus United is more than he has managed against any other team, and Gro s hasnetted in all three of Brightons Premier League victories over the Red Devils, getting the winning Matt Belisle Jersey goal on two occasions. |
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發表於 2023-3-10 14:36:12
