TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2015 SPORTS 20-time English champions United begin new campaign MANCHESTER: For a club of Manchester United’s standing, two years out of the Premier League title conversation is two too many. There are reasons to be optimistic that the run won’t stretch to a third season, even though the 20-time English champions head into the new campaign with as many questions as answers. Louis van Gaal is starting his second season in charge and feels his philosophy - his buzzword since arriving at Old Trafford - is beginning to permeate the club. The Dutchman also believes his squad is better balanced after the offseason signings of midfielders Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin, Italy right back Matteo Darmian, Netherlands forward Memphis Depay and Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero. Throw in its return to the Champions League and another strong set of preseason results on the tour of the United States, including a victory against European champion Barcelona, and there’s every reason to feel United should improve on seventh- and fourth-place finishes in the league in the last two seasons. Not every- thing is rosy at Old Trafford, though. United looks short up front following the departure of Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao this summer. Wayne Rooney starts the season as the club’s only senior striker, although Javier Hernandez - currently injured - is back from his loan spell at Real Madrid. There remain question marks over the future of goalkeeper David de Gea, arguably United’s best player last season and the main reason the team is back in the Champions League. De Gea is heavily linked with a move to Madrid and has barely featured in preseason. And Van Gaal has acknowledged that his squad still the lacks the kind of star quality in attack that is sprinkled throughout the forward Liverpool’s midfielder Jordan Henderson lines of European heavyweights Barcelona, Madrid and Bayern Munich. Argentina midfield- er Angel Di Maria was supposed to have added Liverpool hope for new that but he is on the verge of joining Paris Saint- Germain, to end an underwhelming year at era with Henderson United following his club-record move for 59.7 million pounds (then $99 million). LONDON: When Liverpool walks out mer of 2012 an advocate of the 4-3-3 for- “We can use much more creativity,” Van Gaal against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium on mation. It had brought him success at said during the US tour. United’s first task this the opening day of the season, a new man Swansea where he oversaw the club’s pro- season will be to win its Champions League will lead the way. motion to the top flight and subsequently playoff at the end of August to advance to the Steven Gerrard’s departure for Major an 11th-place finish in the club’s inaugural group stage. Another of Van Gaal’s priorities will League Soccer means a captaincy change season in the Premier League. However, be to start the league season better than last at Anfield for the first time since the iconic since moving to Merseyside he has experi- year, with United’s title chances virtually over midfielder wore the armband in October mented with a series of systems. after picking up just 13 points in the opening 10 2003. Rodgers must decide on how best to rounds. If that happens, United could yet be Gerrard’s last appearance in a Liverpool accommodate his new recruits with back as a genuine contender in the title race, as shirt ended in humiliation with the Reds Henderson, Philippe Coutinho and James it should be after spending about 230 million suffering a 6-1 loss away to Stoke - the Milner all expected to start. pounds ($360 million) on new signings in the CHICAGO: Wayne Rooney No. 10 of Manchester United passes the ball in this file photo. —AFP club’s heaviest defeat since 1963. A decision on a center-back pairing is last 12 months. As it stands, there is a general Liverpool returns to the scene of that also pivotal. Neither Dejan Lovren nor feeling that Chelsea will again be too strong this THE NEW RONALDO? Schneiderlin, as well as the emergence of Ander season-ending rout with newly-installed Mamadou Sakho have shown the consis- season, perhaps even Manchester City and Comparisons are already being made Herrera toward the end of last season, indicates leader Jordan Henderson at the helm as it tency that would merit a starting berth Arsenal. between Depay and Cristiano Ronaldo. That may a refreshing of United’s central midfield. But Van begins an era without its once talismanic alongside the ever-present Martin Skrtel. If Here are some more things to know about be premature, but there is hope at Old Trafford Gaal will surely still find a place for his on-field figure. Liverpool is to reclaim a top-four place, it United ahead of the new season: that the 21-year-old Dutchman can provide an brains, Michael Carrick. Manager Brendan Rodgers has been will need the sort of defensive stability that attacking spark to take United to the next level. Carrick’s return from a long injury coincided among the biggest spenders in the transfer RELIANT ON ROONEY has eluded the side since Rafael Benitez’s He was among the top players in the Dutch with a 10-match unbeaten run for United from market, adding eight new faces to his Rooney is back as United’s No. 1 striker, and league with PSV Eindhoven last season - he has November to January that left the team in squad. Despite some calls for his exit fol- tenure. When Liverpool came to within touch- there is pressure on him to deliver now that Van pace, trickery and a dangerous free kick - and touching distance of the leaders. He missed the lowing the disappointing end to last sea- Persie and Falcao are gone. ing distance of winning the league in 2014, has impressed in preseason. The Premier League last six games of the season because of injury, son, the club’s owners have yet again “I hope to score 20 or more goals again,” the is a huge step up, though, and many players and United won just one of them. Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge played backed their manager’s lavish spending England captain said. “If I am playing as a striker, have struggled to deal with being labeled the Schweinsteiger, the captain of world champi- together up front, in a 4-4-2 supported by a spree. then I will be disappointed if I cannot do that so-called “Next Big Thing” at England’s most suc- on Germany, will surely start although he is Christian Benteke arrived from Aston midfield diamond. When Sturridge returns again.” If he achieves his target, he will become cessful team. Just ask Di Maria. injury prone. Schneiderlin and Herrera offer Villa in a 32.5 million pound ($50.7 million) from his latest injury setback, a potential United’s record scorer. Rooney’s tally for the club energy, but Carrick’s discipline and awareness deal while Brazilian forward Roberto partnership alongside Benteke awaits. If is currently 230 goals, 19 behind Bobby CRUCIAL CARRICK make him a crucial component of Van Gaal’s Firmino joined from German side the pair can recreate the sort of form that Charlton’s record. The arrival of Schweinsteiger and lineup.—AP Hoffenheim for a reported fee of 29 million brought Liverpool a record 101 goals two pounds ($45.8 million). Rodgers bought seasons ago, an immediate return to the eight players last summer with none failing Champions League beckons. to justify their lofty price tags. He can ill- afford a repeat this season with his future RALLYING CRY almost certainly chained to the success of The unproven claim that Gerard often his summer signings. hindered the performances of those Rodgers remained manager despite the around him will serve little purpose when club sliding from 2nd to 6th and out of the the season begins. Players will no longer be lucrative Champions League places. But his able to look to him for rescue. long-serving assistant Colin Pascoe depart- Milner appears to have been identified ed with first-team coach Mike Marsh. by Rodgers as a natural replacement for Former Liverpool midfielder Gary Gerrard. Milner said Rodgers has promised McAllister is one of three new coaches Rodgers has brought in for the upcoming to deploy him in central midfield and this season. was a key factor in his decision to leave As Liverpool kicks off another league Manchester City, where he was played in a challenge, here’s a couple of things to number of varying roles. know: Rodgers will hope that his squad can collectively find solutions when needed. BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD For gone are the days of the charge that Rodgers arrived at Liverpool in the sum- Liverpool is merely a one-man team. —AP Rahal closes in on Montoya LEXINGTON: Racing in his home state - and Albany, which is about 45 miles south of the only a few laps from tightening the IndyCar Mid-Ohio course. This was the third IndyCar standings with a big victory - Graham Rahal win of his career and second of the season. still had one more big restart to sweat out. He had an Ohio State football-themed hel- On lap 84 of 90, he and Justin Wilson met designed to honor the reigning college battled for position, with Rahal eventually football champion, and he’s making quite a staying in front.