What would be the perfect way to respond to that stoppage-time defeat at Brighton last weekend? Putting our bitter rivals Liverpool to the sword at Old Trafford on Sunday.
That’s the job ahead of Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, who is already coming under fire after just two games of the new Premier League season.
I urge patience on that front. Overall, it wasn’t a bad performance on the South Coast and ultimately it wasn’t the Dutchman who left Joao Pedro and two others wide-open at the back post for the Seagulls’ 95th-minute winner.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS have awarded Ten Hag time, courtesy of a contract extension signed earlier this summer, and us fans should follow suit… at least for now.
Remember, we still have some key names on the sidelines and our new signings need time to get up to speed, so it’s not time to overreact.
I say that, but the pressure on Ten Hag will increase tenfold if Liverpool beat us at the weekend, such is the size and stature of the fixture.
I’ll get back to that in a moment, but first I want to discuss the transfer window which closes on Friday night.
Credit to the new suits in charge of football operations at United, for they’ve been very busy over the last couple of months.
We’ve had a much-needed clear-out, parting ways with Mason Greenwood, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Willy Kambwala, Hannibal, Facundo Pellistri, Alvaro Fernandez, Donny van de Beek, Raphael Varane, Omari Forson, Anthony Martial and Brandon Williams.
At time of writing, Scott McTominay to Napoli is practically done and I must admit I’m a little sad about that one. Scott was not only a good squad player but a Red through and through. I wish him all the best in Italy.
Reports also suggest Jadon Sancho could depart, potentially as part of a swap deal with Chelsea for winger Raheem Sterling. I’m undecided on the second part of that sentence for now.
An imminent incoming – in fact, it’s probably already been announced by the time this column is published – is PSG’s Manuel Ugarte.
The 23-year-old central defensive midfielder is exactly the kind of player we’ve needed for a long time and for me this transfer, on top of the arrivals of Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Joshua Zirkzee, completes a transformative window.
It’s still very early days for the club’s new-look setup, but if nothing else it’s a delight to see us operating so efficiently again.
Finally, back to the big game. The one fans of both clubs instantly look for when the fixtures are released and the one neither can bear to lose.
Unsurprisingly, given the start both teams have made, our traders make Liverpool odds-on at 4/5 to come away from Manchester with all three points.
Meanwhile, United are 11/4 which I really do believe is great value. The manager and his players know this is the only way to respond to that Brighton defeat and get the fans back on side.
I’m going to put my neck on the line and predict a 2-1 United win, which is 12/1 at Betfred, and Bruno Fernandes to open the scoring at 17/2.
Tameside man charged with slapping Jack Grealish
Pétanque players bouled over by new piste
Hyde cricketer signs for Lancashire Academy
Harding dives into the medals in Mexico
