“I thought they outplayed them,” mentioned Sky Sports activities’ Gary Neville of the midfield battle towards Liverpool at Anfield. “I thought United got control of the midfield, which I’ve not seen many Manchester United midfields do here.” Manuel Ugarte was key to that.
The Uruguayan has had a comparatively underwhelming begin to his Outdated Trafford profession since becoming a member of from Paris Saint-Germain for a charge that might rise north of £50m – and never simply because United are presently enduring their worst season of the Premier League period.
Erik ten Hag needed to ease him in over health considerations and it has even taken time for him to indicate his finest type underneath Ruben Amorim, a coach who is aware of him properly from their time at Sporting. However he was wonderful at Anfield, a combative presence all through.
Knowledge by means of Genius IQ reveals that Ugarte made 12 sprinting pressures towards Liverpool, outlined as presses the place the participant exceeds 25 kilometres per hour. Crystal Palace’s Jefferson Lerma with 13 was the one participant to exceed that whole over the weekend.
There was an depth to Ugarte’s work that United have missed.
Casemiro and Christian Eriksen discovered themselves steamrollered within the opening half an hour towards Newcastle however Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo stood as much as the problem of dealing with Liverpool’s much-lauded midfield trio. As Amorim mentioned afterwards, it was a mentality factor.
Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte made essentially the most tackles within the draw at Liverpool
The pair made 4 tackles apiece, greater than anybody else on the pitch. There have been a few artful fouls from Ugarte too, breaking apart assaults with out being booked. This was extra just like the participant that supporters thought they have been signing in the summertime.
Manuel Ugarte’s passing in Manchester United’s 2-2 draw at Liverpool
His easy use of the ball was precisely what was known as for, irritating Liverpool, however there was additionally that hooked cross to Bruno Fernandes within the build-up to what would have been the winner had Harry Maguire been in a position to hold his stoppage-time shot down.
This was the primary of the 5 events that Ugarte and Mainoo have began collectively that United have secured a optimistic outcome, so maybe it’s early to get too carried away. However with Ugarte solely 23 and Mainoo nonetheless a teen, their partnership within the center clearly has big potential.
Jimenez’s excellent penalty report
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Highlights from the Premier League match between Fulham and Ipswich
Raul Jimenez transformed two penalties in Fulham’s 2-2 draw with Ipswich at Craven Cottage on Sunday, taking his tally of Premier League spot-kicks to 10. He’s but to overlook, solely the third participant now in double figures to have the ability to boast an ideal penalty report.
Yaya Toure is one forward on 11, whereas Cole Palmer presently holds the report with 12. Jimenez’s method is masterful, strolling as much as the ball, eyes on the goalkeeper as he then forces the ball into both aspect of the web, wrongfooting them simply sufficient to attain.
Raul Jimenez’s 10 Premier League penalties have all been transformed
4 of the Mexican striker’s penalties have gone to the goalkeeper’s one aspect and 6 to the opposite. His conversions towards Ipswich have been typical of that unpredictability. The primary went low to Christian Walton’s proper, the second beat him excessive away to his left.
All of which solely makes it extra stunning that Jimenez was not even Fulham’s penalty taker in the beginning of this season. When he scored at Nottingham Forest in September, he was criticised by his supervisor as a result of Andrea Pereira was the designated taker.
“It is clearly the fault of Raul,” mentioned Fulham boss Marco Silva. “It is not going to happen again.” Three weeks later, Pereira took a penalty towards Aston Villa with the rating stage, had his poor effort saved, and Fulham went on to lose the match 3-1 at Craven Cottage.
Jimenez is clearly the taker now. As he ought to have been all alongside.
Van Hecke’s progressive passing
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Highlights from the Premier League match between Brighton and Arsenal
Jan Paul van Hecke just lately revealed that he felt the eyes of his Brighton team-mates on him when former boss Roberto De Zerbi described him as the most effective centre-backs within the Premier League. However his performances proceed to focus on his uncommon high quality.
It’s his passing out from the again that marks Van Hecke out from the remaining. Within the 1-1 draw towards Arsenal on Saturday, he accomplished 4 passes that bypassed six or extra opposition gamers, greater than another Premier League participant over the weekend.
Jan Paul van Hecke’s vary of passing in Brighton’s draw towards Arsenal
That isn’t uncommon. It’s the eighth time he has finished that this season. Once more, greater than any outfield participant. He additionally holds the report this season for essentially the most in a single recreation – 12 such passes bypassing six or extra defenders within the win over Manchester Metropolis.
In whole, Van Hecke’s passes have bypassed 2360 opponents within the Premier League this season, essentially the most of any participant.
Jan Paul van Hecke ranks prime for whole defenders bypassed this season
He ranks among the many prime 10 gamers within the Premier League for accomplished passes however the monitoring knowledge reveals that these passes had a decrease anticipated completion fee than the opposite 9 males on the checklist. Van Hecke is making harder passes than is regular.
In opposition to the Gunners, these passes tended to be large switches from proper to left. However Van Hecke also can play these intelligent passes between the strains that lower by means of groups. The Netherlands worldwide, now 24, is creating into an elite ball-playing central defender.
