Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata are amongst the goals as United get the better of Liverpool. Steven Gerrard nets the Merseysiders’ consolation in a 3-1 defeat, with Raheem Sterling once again influential in the final third. Elsewhere, David Nugent grabs his fourth strike of the summer as Leicester ease past MK Dons:
Rooney Seals Early Bragging Rights
Wayne Rooney skippered a triumphant United line-up as they earned a morale-boosting 3-1 win over rivals Liverpool in the final of the International Champions Cup final.
Rooney levelled matters with a smart left-foot finish from a Javier Hernandez cross after Steven Gerrard had earlier put a dominant Liverpool in front from the spot – the Reds’ captain profiting following a foul on the lively Raheem Sterling by Phil Jones. With Daniel Sturridge sidelined, the electric Sterling was again the major threat for Liverpool throughout but he could not prevent his side slipping to defeat as goals from Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard earned United the trophy with assists from Luke Shaw and Ashley Young.
Rooney was later named player of the tournament, having registered four goals, and now looks in pole position to take on the United armband – even upon Robin Van Persie’s return. Rooney’s pre-season form is set to seal his place in many a Fantasy lineup, as his 34% Fantasy Premier League (FPL) ownership continues to grow. Post-match, Van Gaal had this to say on the United captaincy, hinting that Rooney would likely keep the captaincy…
“I am always looking for opportunities to give players the captain’s armband. Today Rooney played 90 minutes for the first time. Darren Fletcher had already done it two times, then he was the captain, and Tom Cleverley because he also had 90 minutes. I think you have to choose, when it is possible, the English style. That is when it is possible.”
Mata is another target who has played himself firmly into the reckoning. With 18% FPL ownership, the Spanish playmaker starts the season in fine fettle having claimed a pair of pre-season strikes and an assist playing in the “number 10” role behind twin strikers.
Both sides put out strong lineups in Miami, with United’s perhaps closest to their likely opening day teamsheet. Louis van Gaal again retained the 3-5-2, deploying Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Jonny Evans at the back, with Antonio Valencia and Young as wing-backs.
Valencia was an early casualty: he limped off on nine minutes with Shaw introduced on the left and Young switching to right wing-back. Post-match, Van Gaal gave us an update on the Ecuadorian and fellow injury victim, Danny Welbeck, who missed last night’s encounter…
“Valencia had feelings in his leg. I had told him before the game that you have to listen to your body. The accumulation of tiredness in this tournament is high. All the players want to play but you have to be clever and he was clever to step out. When you’re feeling something in your leg, you have to pay attention to it. His [Welbeck] reaction today was good, but it’s wise we didn’t play him.”
It remains to be seen if the pair will recover to face Swansea a week on Saturday; right now the duo seem doubtful and, with Rafael also sidelined, Shaw and Young could now be set for the wing-back roles for the visit of the Welshmen – a pleasing scenario for Shaw’s 26% FPL ownership. Equally, with Robin van Persie expected to miss the opener, Hernandez could be poised to partner Rooney in attack to offer a short-term attacking option.
As for Liverpool, they were without Jon Flanagan, who continues to struggle with a knee problem sustained on tour, forcing Brendan Rodgers to deploy Martin Kelly at right-back and Glen Johnson on the left. With new signing Dejan Lovren back on Merseyside, Rodgers paired Martin Skrtel with Mamadou Sakho at the back. Joe Allen again started alongside Gerrard in the double pivot, with Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho supporting Rickie Lambert in attack.
We could see a similar starting XI against Southampton on the opening day, although much depended on the availability of Sturridge, with Rodgers remaining optimistic that he’ll be available following a recent hamstring twinge. There’s little doubt that Raheem Sterling’s form over the summer has been the eye-catching factor on show for Rodgers’ side. Handed the freedom of a central attacking role, he could well justify his burgeoning 23% FPL ownership with early returns.
Post-match, Rodgers remained upbeat in spite of the loss and confirmed there are still “one or two to come in” as he continues to add to the Merseysiders’ first-team squad. The Reds boss also took time out to praise Sterling, after another standout display:
“I thought Sterling was outstanding, a real threat. The intensity in his game, how he presses the ball, and technically he’s very aware for a young player. At 19 years of age he’s a young talent and getting better all the time.”
Nugent Nets Again
Leicester’s busy schedule continued with a 2-0 win over MK Dons last night. In the third of four games over the period of six days, Nigel Pearson split his squad in two ahead of tonight’s clash with Rotherham and fielded new boys Marc Albrighton and Ben Hamer alongside the likes of skipper Wes Morgan and David Nugent. The latter opened the scoring to take his pre-season tally to four goals – only Stevan Jovetic and Glenn Murray (five apiece) have managed more – while James Pearson fired a superb second as the Championship winners clinched victory for the fourth time in five matches this summer. Whilst Nugent’s 5.5 FPL price tag is kind, the opening schedule is anything but. With games against Everton, Chelsea, Arsenal and United, allied with trips to Stoke and Palace in the opening six, only 2% of FPL managers have been willing to take a chance on The Foxes spot-kick taker so far.
