The Louis van Gaal era will begin in earnest for Manchester United today when they host Swansea City in the first match of the 2014-2015 English Premier League season.
The 63-year-old Dutchman has impressed in his first four weeks at the United helm, overseeing five wins and a draw in pre-season, but it is in the league that his achievements will be judged.
Swansea were one of eight teams who visited Old Trafford and won last season, creating a sense of vulnerability that Van Gaal has been hired to banish for good.
Photo: AFP
Coincidentally, United also met Swansea on the opening day of the 2013-2014 campaign, with the then-defending champions winning 4-1 at the Liberty Stadium in David Moyes’ first league game as manager.
The result was to prove a red herring, as United finished the season down in seventh place, but midfielder Tom Cleverley said that it will be important to set the right tone for the forthcoming campaign.
“We can’t wait to get going against Swansea and look to put right the wrongs from last year,” Cleverley told the United Web site. “We started against Swansea last year, but away. This time it’s at home and I’m sure the fans will be the same as us — raring to go. It’ll be the manager’s first competitive game and I’m sure it’ll be a special atmosphere.”
Photo: EPA
Wayne Rooney is set to lead United out for the first time since being named captain after Tuesday’s 2-1 friendly win over Valencia.
United will have to make do without ￡27 million (US$45 million) close-season signing Luke Shaw, though, after the 19-year-old leftback was ruled out due to a hamstring strain.
Another team buoyed by a positive pre-season period are Arsenal, who launch their assault on the league title at home to Crystal Palace.
Having ended a nine-year trophy drought by winning last season’s FA Cup, Arsene Wenger’s side gave an eye-catching demonstration of their title credentials by outclassing league champions Manchester City 3-0 in last weekend’s Community Shield at Wembley.
New signing Alexis Sanchez, a ￡30 million acquisition from Barcelona, is in line to make his competitive home debut against Palace and captain Mikel Arteta has called on his side to make a positive start to the campaign.
“We’ve done our [transfer] business early this season so we can start from the off and that’s what we want,” the Spanish midfielder told the Arsenal Web site. “We want to set a marker and we don’t want to miss that opportunity. We’ve got experience now, we are able to win. We have the qualities to do it, we have the structure, the fans, the club and the desire to do it.”
Palace go into the game in crisis after reports emerged late on Thursday that manager Tony Pulis had left the club after falling out with owners over transfer policy.
English Championship champions Leicester City are set to play their first top-flight game since 2004 when they host Everton today, while fellow promoted side Queens Park Rangers welcome Hull City to Loftus Road in London.
Champions Manchester City begin their title defense at Newcastle United tomorrow.
When City last claimed the title, in 2011-2012, they won only two of their opening five games the following season, but captain Vincent Kompany feels that they now possess the necessary know-how to retain their title.
“We know what to look out for. We know what not to do,” said the Belgian centerback, who has signed a new five-year contract. “The players at City have got experience with winning trophies. It goes in phases. We’re in this phase now. We feel we can win it.”
Liverpool, who narrowly lost out to City in last season’s title race, open the campaign at home to Southampton, who have seen Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Dejan Lovren all leave for Anfield.
Lallana will miss the reunion with his former club due to a knee injury, but Lambert and Lovren are both in contention to feature in what will be Liverpool’s first competitive game since the sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are expected to hand competitive debuts to new signings Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas when they visit the third promoted team, Burnley, on Monday.
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