Casemiro Signs As Manchester United Beat Liverpool
Manchester United fans were able to welcome Brazilian midfielder Casemiro to Old Trafford before the game against Liverpool, before the team turned in a performance of stunning intensity to beat their rivals.
A wretched season last term was summed up by 5-0 and 4-0 defeats against the Premier League runners up and United fans feared the worst after losing at home to Brighton on the opening day of the season before crumbling 4-0 at Brentford.
Instead, the team produced a display of huge energy and intensity of the kind new coach Erik Ten Haag will have been demanding after his side were heavily outrun in West London, with Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford producing the coolest of finishes to secure the three points despite a late goal by Mo Salah.
Just as notable was the team selection, with club captain Harry Maguire dropped and Cristiano Ronaldo only coming off the bench in the latter stages.
Fans may now feel happier going into sports shops in Manchester to pick up a United shirt, especially one with Casemiro on the back as the former Real Madrid player is expected to provide the kind of outstanding defensive midfielder the team sorely needs.
Speaking after the game, Former Ajax coach Ten Hag praised the attitude of his team, but was quick to emphasise that they need to reproduce it every week and not just in a big game against their traditional rivals.
There is still much work ahead for United and many fans took the opportunity to voice discontent against the running of the club by the Glazer family, including a major pre-match demonstration, but they may yet have more incoming transfers to look forward to.
Another Brazilian, Ajax winger Antony, has been tipped to rejoin Ten Haag, with United expected to submit an improved bid to the Amsterdam club. Another Dutch-based winger United have been linked with is PSV Eindhoven’s Cody Gapko, while the club is reportedly making one last attempt to sign Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong.