Main events
Liverpool – Brighton & Hove Albion teams
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Barcola, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isaac. Subscribers: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Endo, Chiesa, Tsimikas, Nyoni, McConnell, Koumas, Ngumoha.
Brighton & Hove Albion (4-2-3-1): consumption; Kadioglu, Vuskovic, Dank, Boscagli; Andres, Gross; Gomez, Ayari, De Cuyper; Kostoulas. Subscribers: Steele, Hadjam, Hinshelwood, Rutter, Promise, Osman, Costinha, O’Riley, Yalcouye.
Carrick tells Sky that you have options when choosing a team, it’s always a difficult decision and they have to make a decision in the best interests of the team. Asked if it was because of what he said or how he played, he replied, “Pure football.”
Lisandro Martinez is not ready yet, he is on, Heaven was ill but played well and United have strong options off the bench.
He wants United to play with humility and effort, Bournemouth are a really good team and United will have to play well to get a result. They want to convert a run and win a game, and today is a good day to do so.
Manchester United – AFC Bournemouth teams
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): About Us Company Name: Lammens; Yoro, Maguire, Heaven, Dalot Santos, Baleba; Amad, Tielemans, Mountain; Mbeumo. Subscribers: Darlow, De Ligt, Martinez, Mazraoui, Bruno Fernandes, T. Fletcher, Cunha, Lacey, Zirkzee.
AFC Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Petrovich; Smith, Hill, Silva, Truffert; Adams, Cook; Ryan, Kluivert, Tavernier; Evanislson. Subscribers: Soler, Brooks, Di Gregorio, Christie, Gannon-Doak, Diakite, Adley, Croupee, Rodriguez.
Reports from Old Trafford, as reported by Sky, suggest that Bruno Fernandes has been sacked by Michael Carrick.
We don’t know if it’s down to consistent poor form or midweek insubordination – it could be either or both – but either way, it’s a shame to be in this situation. Ultimately, United snapped up Bruno, who had dedicated his career to lifting a club that had consistently let him down, and although he went beyond what he said after Como, it wasn’t for nothing, his mistake was well earned.
Preamble
Egg walks into the kitchen looking unhappy, so the chef asks what’s wrong. “It’s a whim,” he says. “They beat me.”
“What about forks?” hires a cook; “Yes, they beat me too,” comes the reply, so the chef pauses in thought.
Have you considered spending time with Manchester United? finally suggests. They don’t beat anyone.”
It’s almost two months since United won a league game, and that was against Ipswich, who are now five places above them in the table. They also managed a win over Champions League debutants Sabah, but otherwise their start to the season has been beyond concept, even by August standards, and is deteriorating rapidly. Yet another manager seems toast and this time, perhaps for the first time, no idea where they can go next.
Just three weeks ago, a home game against Bournemouth was as close as it got, even for them. Since then, back-to-back wins over Sturm Graz, Sunderland and Milan by eight goals and conceding none have turned the Cherries’ mood around and they arrived at Old Trafford with Marco Rose and the club buzzing. They will love it and really who wouldn’t?
It would be a lot if our afternoon was that long, but luckily for us it’s not close. At Anfield, Liverpool – also on a three-game winning streak – entertain Brighton, three points clear of third with a game in hand. They will know that the top five is theirs because of the way they play and who knows what else?
Those two matches will keep our attention, but we’ll also be updated from Hull, who could lose form after a bright start, against Brentford, Palace take on Newcastle at Selhurst and KC, who struggle badly after a promising start under Matthias Jaissle. Or in other words, it’s going to be a lot of fun.
Beginnings: 14:00 GMT baby