Donyell Malen (Aston Villa): A weird start to his Aston Villa career – he came in from Borussia Dortmund and it looked like he would be helping them in the Champions League but he didn’t make the squad because of Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio. Then he was a bit-part player, did OK but didn’t look like he had the confidence. Against Burnley he got a start and scored twice. I think he’s someone who needs to start and build into the game, he’s better starting than coming off the bench. The two finishes were magnificent.
Mason Mount (Man Utd): This is a bit of a wildcard but he was excellent against Sunderland. Has struggled with injuries and left Chelsea for United under a bit of a cloud. He hasn’t really hit the ground running because of the injuries but looked back to his best. Calm, composed, worked hard for the team and got his goal. When he came off after 65 minutes the game lost its rhythm – he was the best player on the pitch by a country mile.
Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth): I’m running out of words for this guy – he just keeps scoring. He was relatively quiet against Fulham but somehow he goes from strength to strength. We didn’t see much of him for 70 minutes but all of a sudden he’s got two goals – running at players with pace and intent. He’s developed into a top player that top clubs must be looking at. He has signed a new deal at Bournemouth but I can see the likes of Tottenham and Chelsea being interested.
Erling Haaland (Man City): He is just the man. We’re in a world where people want to look at everything that players are doing, but he just scores goals – he’s a throwback. He bullied two centre-backs and had no right to score that goal at Brentford, but it has kept Manchester City on a forward trajectory. Everyone was speaking about Yoane Wissa and Alexander Isak in the summer and we all forgot about the big man. He is letting everyone know the guvnor’s back in town.
Match of the Day’s Wayne Rooney says new Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens “did a lot of good things” in his debut for the club during their 2-0 win over Sunderland in the Premier League.
PREMIER LEAGUE football is back after another dreary international break.
And the highlight of this weekend’s action is undoubtedly the mouthwatering Manchester derby on Sunday.
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Man Utd have a big decision to make over whether to give Senne Lammens a debut against Man CityCredit: Getty
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Gianluigi Donnarumma could line up for Pep Guardiola’s side after his deadline day moveCredit: AFP
City vs United is one of the top fixtures of the season.
But there could be some huge changes for both sides, with Pep Guardiola and Ruben Amorim each signing a new goalkeeper on deadline day.
Will Gianluigi Donnarumma and Senne Lammens get their first taste of English football action in one of world football’s biggest games?
SunSport’s tactical expert Dean Scoggins dives into another brilliant analysis…
NEW GOALKEEPER ‘TRAP’ BATTLE
I reckon both teams will be nervous about potential debuts for their goalies! But United fans should be the most nervous about what decision gets made.
City don’t cross it very much so that’s one thing in favour of sticking with Altay Bayindir over Senne Lammens.
Another thing in his favour is United have learned to play out with him, and Amorim may decide to leave Lammens out.
With Gianluigi Donnarumma, City don’t have to worry about mistakes, he will make stacks of saves, he’s absolutely class.
But what they should be nervous about is how they’re going to cope with playing out.
Pep’s hardly going to stop playing out from the back, but Donnarumma is perceived to not be great with his feet, which could give James Trafford a chance.
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Tactically, United will play 3-4-3 and when they’re pressing from the front, they almost slot into a 4-4-2 diamond.
We’ll expect City to drop the centre-backs in and push the full-backs on. You’d then think the goalie plays over the top.
But United will put real pressure on then. The striker will drop on City’s No6 to stop him getting the ball.
They will then press either side with curved runs to block off Donnarumma’s channels.
United want to set a trap by leaving a City player free — they want Donnarumma to play to him.
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Altay Bayindir’s pass success means he could get the nod ahead of Lammens
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United will look to trap Donnarumma into making risky passes with a sneaky set-up
When he hits it, United are going to shuffle across. It’s a trigger for a press. And City fans will be very nervous in that playing-out scenario.
United should be willing to take that risk to make Donnarumma play those passes, and that could mean a lot of joy.
As for Lammens, he looks really confident on the ball. He puts his foot on the ball to bait people in.
But with City’s set-up, they leave United’s 8’s for a trap. That could see them take advantage of United playing out with a new inexperienced goalie.
I’m a bit nervous if Lammens goes straight in, it takes time on the training ground to prepare these things.
They’ve been very brave with Bayindir so far. Lammens is very confident on the ball but it takes time to get used to set-ups in the Premier League.
WHAT SYSTEM WILL PEP USE?
We’ve seen 4-4-2, 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 so far. That’s with 11 injuries.
In attack they want to be in a 3-2-5 shape. But what they’ve done quite a lot this season, not successfully, is get into a 2-3-5 shape with a full-back moving in.
But up against Bryan Mbeumo, and with injuries, I’d be nervous about that shape.
Nathan Ake could come in for a back three, but I think Bernardo Silva will be the key man in this game with his interchanging.
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City will look to squeeze up with three at the back
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This could open the door for United to counter with four attackers
Tottenham and Brighton had loads of joy against City by leaving four up top.
I think City will use Matheus Nunes as a generic right-back with two in midfield like a 4-2-4 shape.
As for United, I think Amad Diallo will play on the left of attack, with Noussair Mazraoui at right wing-back.
There’s a question mark over midfield, is it two or one at the base? It depends on injuries.
HOW WILL MAN UTD ATTACK?
It’s a 3-5-2, but will Amorim start Sesko? United have been the most direct team in the league this season.
They’ve had the most direct chances but haven’t scored one yet.
Mbeumo’s gone close so that’s what they’re going to do.
I think Sesko has to play just for his physicality. Spurs used Richarlison to great effect against City.
If Cunha isn’t fit, you don’t want Mbeumo moved from the right. Don’t make two changes for the sake of one.
If Mount is out too, does Diallo go to the left? You’ve got other options at wing-back.
Diallo turned the game on its head last season and made a fool of Matheus Nunes so can do that job.
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Man Utd love having possession on the left… but they look to break on the right
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They are the most direct team in the Prem but are yet to score from an attack
United will form diamonds and triangles all over the pitch. It gives them options on either side.
But they’ve particularly liked overloading the left side this season.
That leaves Mbeumo to isolate his defender, with the ball going in behind for him to attack the space.
City have been susceptible to balls over the top and have conceded twice from them so far.
United are having more of the ball on the left, but attacking more on the right. That will be the move they want to get.
That’s something for United fans to lick their lips over in attack.
Long passes are back in fashion. City have been more direct and United are now doing it too.
I fancy United to get some joy in this.
DO RODRI AND NICO BOTH PLAY?
I think they should in this game. Reijnders was outstanding against Wolves but got overrun by Spurs physically and caught out against Brighton.
Because City get greedy with position, a midfielder move forward and the other has a lot of space to cover.
Rodri can’t cover that space, especially after his injury.
I think both Rodri and Nico Gonzalez should play as the two, with Bernardo Silva the key on the right as the most flexible player.
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City would be wise to start both Rodri and Nico Gonzalez
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They can’t afford to leave space in the middle of the park with their high line
He can come inside and bring Nunes forward, forcing Dorgu back.
In the direct way of playing and how open they’ve been, it should be a two.
Also, Pep Ljinders. City are pressing more with him as assistant.
It leaves space open for balls over the top, while City have also been playing a very high line.
It’s too much space so two are needed to make it solid. Trust your attackers to break down United.
If they are struggling, take over Nico and bring on a winger. But start with a solid base.
The discrepancy in his strong crosses-stopped numbers and what is seen when watching him at corners is made clearer knowing he conceded eight goals from 85 corners faced last season, according to Opta.
Conceding 9% of all corners faced, when compared to all Premier League keepers who faced more than 20 corners last season, places 15 keepers as having a better percentage and 12 as having worse.
Interestingly, Aston Villa’s Martinez ranked second best, only conceding two goals from corners having faced 60. Lammens’ 9%, however, is a big improvement on United’s first-choice keeper last season, Andre Onana, who conceded 17.2%.
It is key to note these numbers are influenced by the quality of the league, opposition faced, and the defending team’s ability to defend corners. United’s team-wide defending of corners has been questionable at times and the Premier League’s physicality, inventive corner routines and use of individuals to apply physical contact on keepers, may cause Lammens’ numbers to become slightly worse as he learns to adapt to the league.
His confidence, aggression and height do give him useful raw tools to improve in these situations if coached around when to come and how to position himself.
