Manchester United is currently facing a striking crisis, with their new signing Joshua Zirkzee yet to prove himself. Zirkzee, who was signed for £36.5 million from Bologna, has been training with the team for a week now. However, due to his involvement in the Holland squad that reached the semi-finals of the Euros, he was not brought to the US for pre-season training. This decision raises questions about his integration with the team and whether he could have benefited from joining them for part of the training camp.
In the absence of Zirkzee, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has been forced to deploy a false nine system, with players like Bruno Fernandes and Scott McTominay acting as two false nines coming from deep. This tactic proved successful in the FA Cup Final against Manchester City, and it is likely to be utilized again in the upcoming Community Shield match against their neighbors.
However, relying on a false nine system for the first few games of the season is not a sustainable solution. Manchester United needs a proven striker to guarantee goals. Zirkzee, despite his potential, is unproven at the highest level. Even Bayern Munich, his former club, did not believe he was good enough, as he only made 17 appearances for them. Furthermore, during his time at Bologna, he scored just 14 goals in 58 games. This raises doubts about his ability to deliver consistently in the Premier League.
Last season, Manchester United struggled to find the back of the net, finishing joint-worst in terms of goals scored in the top half of the Premier League. The team is desperate for goals to come from somewhere, and the return to form of Marcus Rashford is a positive sign. Rashford, who suffered from injuries last season, has shown promising performances during the pre-season games. Although he did not score in the match against Liverpool, he was the standout performer for Manchester United.
Liverpool, on the other hand, had a convincing victory against Manchester United. Fabio Carvalho opened the scoring, followed by goals from Curtis Jones and Kostas Tsimikas. The Liverpool fans left the stadium with a sense of optimism, while the Manchester United fans were left disappointed.
It is important to note that injuries to Rasmus Hojlund and Leny Yoro have further weakened Manchester United’s striking options. As the squad returns home, the team will need to reassess their attacking strategy and find a solution before the start of the season. While key players like Bruno Fernandes, Lisandro Martinez, and Luke Shaw were not present for the pre-season games, this defeat against a major rival highlights the need for improvement in Manchester United’s striking department.