[
2
Manchester United will face Liverpool in a rematch of the historic FA Cup quarter-final three weeks in the past.
The Crimson Devils got here out on prime 4–3 to open the ultimate worldwide break of the season on excellent type.
Nonetheless, United's comeback has been poor to say the least, with a 1-1 draw at Brentford and a ridiculous 4-3 defeat to Chelsea on Thursday.
Right this moment's match would be the 242nd installment of the good North-West derby and each side want a win because the Merseysiders intention to return to the highest of the desk and United look to increase their benefit over chasing pack Newcastle, West Ham on factors. Wanted. And their winners on Thursday evening, Chelsea.
Listed here are some tales to whet the urge for food.
How will Willie Kambwala carry out?
In a recurring theme of the 2023/2024 season, the Crimson Devils don’t have many middle again choices obtainable. Within the final two matches, United have misplaced Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof, Lisandro Martínez and Jonny Evans to harm.
Subsequently, the Outdated Trafford workforce has no possibility however to discipline the defensive duo of Willie Kambwala and Harry Maguire.
The younger Frenchman didn’t disappoint when known as upon however beginning towards Liverpool is at all times a giant ask.
On account of one other harm disaster within the defensive division, Kambwala was surprisingly included within the first eleven alongside Jonny Evans towards West Ham simply earlier than Christmas.
He didn’t disappoint and performed the match standing straight for 84 minutes. Regardless of being an everyday member of the matchday squad, the Frenchman truly performed solely 4 extra video games for a complete of 47 minutes. Nonetheless this included 21 minutes on the Etihad and 24 minutes at Stamford Bridge.
He’s clearly rated extremely within the United squad as his compatriot Raphael Varane claimed the defender could have a “nice future” on the membership.
How he handles the strain will inform loads concerning the Crimson Devils' probabilities of getting something out of the match.
Will the 250th academy be began?
On this season of disappointment for United, there have most likely been solely two actual shiny spots. Reaching the semi-finals of the FA Cup and in addition the play of younger gamers like Kobi Manu, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hjolund.
The season additionally noticed the debuts of academy merchandise Kambwala, Omari Forson and Dan Gore.
This places the Mancunian facet on a powerful tally of 249 academy gamers to make their senior workforce debut.
With nobody obtainable, it has been reported that United will add Harry Amas to the senior workforce in the summertime.
The proficient left-back has loved a massively profitable season with the under-18 workforce, however was disregarded after yesterday's 1-9 defeat to Liverpool, as he’s more likely to be a part of the senior matchday squad.
This has naturally led to hypothesis over whether or not the participant will begin and even get some minutes beneath his belt. Even when he simply sits on the bench, absorbing the ambiance and being a part of the altering room on such a giant day will probably be an enormous expertise for a younger participant aiming to interrupt into the primary workforce setup.
Can United keep away from extra undesirable historical past?
In response to the BBC, United's 12 Premier League defeats this marketing campaign are United's most because the league started in 1992.
This occurred within the 2013–2014 and 2021–2022 seasons, the place each managers David Moyes and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had been sacked.
If the Crimson Devils lose this match or, certainly, any of their remaining seven matches after right this moment's contest, the 2023/2024 model of the workforce could have gained extra video games than any United workforce in Premier League historical past. Will need to have misplaced.
The Crimson Devils have already made undesirable historical past this week as they turned the workforce with the lead on the newest stage of the sport, 99 minutes and 17 seconds, and nonetheless misplaced the match.