We’re just a couple of weeks away from the start of the new English Premier League season and excitement is slowly building for the return of the world’s most popular soccer league. One of the teams to watch this season is Manchester United who are desperate to end their two-year title drought this campaign.
Read on below as we break down Manchester United’s Premier League chances this season. While you’re at it, you can check out our team previews of Chelsea and Manchester City.
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Manchester United 2015-2016 Premier League Preview
Overview
[sc:Soccer240banner ]After enduring another trophyless season last campaign, Manchester United have decided to spend big on the transfer market once again this offseason. They struck early in the transfer scene when they signed Dutch winger Memphis Depay from PSV Eindhoven last May for a cool £25million. The Red Devils then bolstered their midfield ranks earlier this month by signing Morgan Schneiderlin and German star Bastian Schweinsteiger from Southampton and Bayern Munich respectively.
United CEO Ed Woodward also signed Italian right-back Matteo Darmian from Torino to fortify the Red Devils’ defense. And it looks like he isn’t done strengthening United’s backline just yet as reports have surfaced that they are close to signing Real Madrid center-back Sergio Ramos as well.
Even with those marquee signings, there are still plenty of questions surrounding Manchester United heading into the brand new season. Chief among United’s concerns is David de Gea’s rumored move to Real Madrid. De Gea was a vital cog to United’s success the past couple of seasons so his loss will be a huge blow to their league hopes this season. Angel di Maria is another player who appears to be on the way out of Old Trafford with French champions PSG the frontrunners to get his signature.
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Key Player – Wayne Rooney
Manager Louis van Gaal is going all-in with Wayne Rooney. After playing the England captain in different roles last season (particularly in midfield), the veteran tactician has finally decided to use Rooney as a central striker for the Red Devils this coming season. It’s definitely a surprise that van Gaal has taken quite this long to arrive at such a decision considering Rooney has been brilliant when deployed in that position in the past.
Rooney last operated as a main striker in the 2011-12 season when he scored 34 goals, his highest personal haul. With United’s striking options quite limited at the moment with Robin van Persie’s departure, the onus is on Rooney to carry the scoring load for the 20-time English champions this campaign. He scored 14 goals in 37 appearances for the Red Devils last season.
Key Game – vs. Liverpool (September 12)
For Manchester United players and supporters, there’s no bigger game on the Premier League calendar than their matchup with arch rivals Liverpool. In fact, United legend Ryan Giggs once referred to this clash as “the most famous fixture in English football”. United fans won’t have to wait much longer for this rivalry to commence this coming season as the Red Devils will host their bitter rivals at Old Trafford on the second week of September.
It will be United’s first major test of the new Premier League season and it will be interesting to see how the Red Devils will fare in this particular contest. A victory here can provide United with the much-needed impetus to their league campaign so it’s crucial for the Red Devils to grab all three points in this much-anticipated showdown. Manchester United grabbed the coveted double against Liverpool in the Premier League last season.
Best Case/Worst Case Scenario
Best Case Scenario
Manchester United signs Sergio Ramos in a blockbuster deal to further strengthen their backline. Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin provide the muscle in midfield that United have been sorely missing the past couple of seasons. Wayne Rooney revels in his role as central striker and scores at least 30 goals for United this campaign. A combination of these factors will help the Red Devils capture their first Premier League title in the post-Alex Ferguson era.
Worst Case Scenario
An injury to captain Wayne Rooney will be catastrophic for United especially with their striking options running thin at the moment. If such an unfortunate scenario occurs, there’s a great chance United’s trophyless drought will continue for the third year running.
Complete Schedule
DATE
OPPONENT
TIME
Saturday, Aug 8
Tottenham
7:45 AM ET
Friday, Aug 14
@ Aston Villa
2:45 PM ET
Saturday, Aug 22
Newcastle
7:45 AM ET
Sunday, Aug 30
@ Swansea City
11:00 AM ET
Saturday, Sep 12
Liverpool
12:30 PM ET
Sunday, Sep 20
@ Southampton
11:00 AM ET
Saturday, Sep 26
Sunderland
10:00 AM ET
Saturday, Oct 3
@ Arsenal
10:00 AM ET
Saturday, Oct 17
@ Everton
10:00 AM ET
Saturday, Oct 24
Manchester City
10:00 AM ET
Saturday, Oct 31
@ Crystal Palace
11:00 AM ET
Saturday, Nov 7
West Bromwich Albion
11:00 AM ET
Saturday, Nov 21
@ Watford
11:00 AM ET
Saturday, Nov 28
@ Leicester City
11:00 AM ET
Saturday, Dec 5
West Ham
11:00 AM ET
Saturday, Dec 12
@ Bournemouth
11:00 AM ET
Saturday, Dec 19
Norwich City
11:00 AM ET
Saturday, Dec 26
@ Stoke City
11:00 AM ET
Monday, Dec 28
Chelsea
11:00 AM ET
Saturday, Jan 2
Swansea City
11:00 AM ET
Wednesday, Jan 13
@ Newcastle
3:45 PM ET
Saturday, Jan 16
@ Liverpool
11:00 AM ET
Saturday, Jan 23
Southampton
11:00 AM ET
Tuesday, Feb 2
Stoke
4:00 PM ET
Saturday, Feb 6
@ Chelsea
11:00 AM ET
Saturday, Feb 13
@ Sunderland
11:00 AM ET
Saturday, Feb 27
Arsenal
11:00 AM ET
Tuesday, Mar 1
Watford
4:00 PM ET
Saturday, Mar 5
@ West Bromwich Albion
11:00 AM ET
Saturday, Mar 12
Crystal Palace
11:00 AM ET
Saturday, Mar 19
@ Manchester City
11:00 AM ET
Saturday, Apr 2
Everton
11:00 AM ET
Saturday, Apr 9
@ Tottenham
11:00 AM ET
Saturday, Apr 16
Aston Villa
11:00 AM ET
Saturday, Apr 23
@ West Ham
11:00 AM ET
Saturday, Apr 30
Leicester City
11:00 AM ET
Saturday, May 7
@ Norwich
11:00 AM ET
Sunday, May 15
Bournemouth
11:00 AM ET
Writer’s Prediction
Manchester United (+475) regains the Premier League title this season.
