Despite suffering defeat on the opening day of the new Premier League campaign, Ruben Amorim’s revitalized side did show signs of finally adapting to his methods.
United fans left Old Trafford cautiously optimistic even after the 1-0 reverse to Arsenal and will now be hoping the team can kick on and enjoy a strong season under the Portuguese head coach.
However, United’s opening fixtures are daunting to say the least with Manchester City and Chelsea making up two of their next four opponents.
Furthermore, just over that horizon lies the ultimate acid test of a trip to Anfield with Amorim and his men finding out the official date for the crunch game this afternoon.
Sunday afternoon slot for Anfield test
United were scheduled to travel to Merseyside on Saturday, October 17 but the Premier League today announced the fixture will take place on Sunday, October 18th at 16:30 GMT.
Arne Slot’s side started their defence of the Premier League title with a home win against Bournemouth to raise the curtain on the new campaign but there were signs in that Liverpool performance that Amorim’s new-look front-line will look to exploit.
Liverpool are also scheduled to be in Champions League action in the midweek leading up to the blockbuster match, and with no European football for United this season, Amorim will be desperate to make the free time count.
Additionally, Amorim has already proven that he can get United to perform behind enemy lines as seen from their 2-2 draw in the corresponding fixture last season. It remains one of the best showings under the coach thus far.
United will hope to go one better this time around and winning at Anfield would certainly go a long way to restoring some of the confidence lost over the last 12 months.
Additional changes to October schedule
Along with the Liverpool fixture change, United’s home game against Brighton and Hove Albion has also been given a revised kick-off time with the game chosen for TV coverage in the 17:30 slot GMT.
Fabian Hurzeler will make the long trip to Manchester on Saturday, October 25th for the late afternoon match up and United will be desperate to avoid a repeat of last season’s disastrous showing against the Seagulls.
Andre Onana suffered a day to forget as Brighton ran out 3-1 winners at Old Trafford and they will be aiming for a hat-trick of wins at the Theatre of Dreams after beating Erik ten Hag’s United in the 2023/24 campaign as well.
United do have the visit of Sunderland to navigate before the two aforementioned fixtures and that game will take place in its original slot of Saturday, October 4 at 15:00 GMT, making up the trio of matches for the month.
Both the Liverpool and Brighton matches will be shown live on Sky Sports, with the Sunderland clash not set to be aired in the UK.
Amorim will be desperate to take United into October’s assignments in form and full of confidence, and will need to build on the progress clearly shown in the opening game against Arsenal.
The confirmed October schedule for United is as follows:
Saturday, 4 October: Sunderland (H), 15:00
Sunday, 19 October: Liverpool (A), 16:30
Saturday, 25 October: Brighton (H), 17:30
Feature image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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Conner Botterill
Conner Botterill has been with The Peoples Person for two years. A keen match-going red with degrees in Sport and Journalism and Philosophy and Psychology, Conner still believes he has a chance of making United’s first team through his 5-a-side career.
