Manchester United, Liverpool lock horns in tale of two Dutchmen – The Kampala Report

The latest installment of a brewing epic Dutch rivalry takes place when long time rivals Manchester United host Liverpool on Sunday evening in what promises to be a humdinger. Old Trafford supremo Erik ten Hag and Anfield boss Arne Slot are known to each other from their days in Holland’s Eredivisie where they both won domestic titles with Ajax Amsterdam and Feyenoord of Rotterdam.

They two men are well matched in direct confrontations with each boasting two victories and newcomer Slot knows United are no longer the benchmark that has to be ‘knocked off the perch’ in a manner Old Trafford legend Sir Alex Ferguson vowed when he first took over the helm almost four decades earlier.

But the former Feyenoord boss is keenly aware that three points is the minimum expected if he is to guide the Anfield club to the elusive 20th English Premier League title that would equal the record set by Ferguson when he retired eleven years ago.

Liverpool’s sole signing this summer, Federico Chiesa, a £10m recruitment from Juventus, has arrived too late to be involved whereas Curtis Jones remains sidelined by injury. Ten Hag is meanwhile without Mason Mount who joined Rasmus Hojlund, Tyrel Malacia, Leny Yoro and Luke Shaw in the treatment room after picking up a hamstring injury.

Match day three gets underway with joint leaders Arsenal and Brighton squaring off in Saturday’s early kick off. It’s been a busy week for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta who has boosted his ranks with Spain star Mikel Merino and sold Aaron Ramsdale as he bids to improve the Gunners points tally for a fifth consecutive season.

Brighton opposite Fabian Hurzeler is without £25m signing Matt O’Riley who was stretchered off injured within minutes of his debut in the Seagulls’ 4-0 Carabao Cup victory over Crawley Town. Seagulls chairman Tony Bloom is normally known for his financial prudence but he has breached the £200m mark on new signings in an attempt to challenge the status quo.

In the continued absence of Euro 2024 player of the tournament, Rodrigo Cascante Hernandez ‘Rodri’, treble winning captain Ilkay Gundogan is in contention to start in midfield alongside Mateo Kovacic when champions Manchester City lock horns with West Ham United in Saturday’s late kick off.

SATURDAY
Arsenal v Brighton,
Ipswich Town v Fulham,
Nottingham Forest v Wolves,
Everton v Bournemouth,
Brentford v Southampton,
Leicester City v Aston Villa,
West Ham United v Manchester City

SUNDAY
Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur,
Chelsea v Crystal Palace,
Manchester United v Liverpool