BREAKING NEWS: Coming live from Old Trafford, Manchester United Ex-player urges ten hag to start forgotten star against Liverpool to be victorious. Juan Mata has called on Erik ten hag to start star player in their upcoming Premier League clash between man utd and Liverpool. The match is slated for Sunday at Old Trafford He said, “This is a massive game. He needs to start against Liverpool he is being so underrated and has that spark to change a game just like arsenal trossard. if he doesn’t start it’s for two reasons it’s either he’s not the coach we need or they want to give away the match to Liverpool clear. “It’s a big game” he needs to be in the starting lineup Juan Mata warns.
Juan Mata has urged Erik ten Hag to make changes to his lineup for Manchester United’s upcoming Premier League clash against Liverpool, specifically advocating for summer signing Joshua Zirkzee to be given a starting role. This weekend’s fixture at Old Trafford sees one of the Premier League’s most intense rivalries reignite as Liverpool visits Manchester United.
Liverpool, under new manager Arne Slot, will aim to continue their perfect start to the season following wins over Ipswich Town and Brentford. On the other hand, Manchester United will be looking to recover from last weekend’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton, which came shortly after their opening-day victory against Fulham.
Although Liverpool has been the stronger team in recent years, Mata remains optimistic about United’s chances and insists that he wouldn’t settle for a draw before the game kicks off. He acknowledges the importance of this match for Ten Hag, even at this early stage of the season, and believes the Dutchman should start Zirkzee, who has impressed in his appearances off the bench.
When asked by Liverpool legend and fellow Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher if he would accept a draw, Mata responded, “No, I wouldn’t.” He expressed confidence in Ten Hag’s ability to secure the right results when needed, though he admitted some concern if United were to suffer a heavy defeat on Sunday. However, Mata doesn’t foresee a significant loss for United, noting that the team has a habit of performing well under Ten Hag when it matters most.
Mata also mentioned that after the disappointing result against Brighton, Ten Hag is under some pressure to deliver, although it’s not overwhelming at this point. He emphasized that the upcoming match is crucial for Ten Hag, particularly given the need to improve United’s performances early in the season. Mata pointed out that United needs to build momentum and elevate their performance levels, which have been inconsistent in the first two weeks of the season.
One of the issues Mata identified is the team’s imbalance, which he attributes to the lack of a consistent center forward and the absence of Zirkzee in the starting lineup. However, he is hopeful that Ten Hag will make the necessary adjustments for Sunday’s game. Mata hinted that Ten Hag might be more concerned than he lets on about the upcoming clash.
Previewing the match, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher acknowledged the significance of the game, noting that even under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool has sometimes struggled at Old Trafford. While there have been a couple of big wins, Liverpool has generally found it difficult to secure victories at United’s home ground. Carragher expects a tough game and suggested that a draw wouldn’t be a disastrous outcome for Liverpool, given that they’ve already won their first two matches. However, he emphasized that Liverpool should aim for a win, considering they are currently a stronger team than Manchester United.
