The Fixtures until the end of year 2021 by Dr. Michael Calleja
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re-season is usually characterised by two ‘major’ events. The first is the conventional sifting through social media platforms to find out if our beloved club is linked to the next superstar. The second ‘tradition’ is the release of the fixture list - with every fan normally checking out the all-important encounters (the Manchester Derby and fixtures against Liverpool - normally high on every United fan’s agenda). For the purposes of this article, I will be giving a brief overview of the club’s fixtures till end of year 2021 (with our game on the 28th of December being the final encounter of the calendar year).
By the time this magazine is distributed, the club would have already commenced the season with a feisty encounter against Leeds United on the 14th of August. The Lilywhites certainly punched above their weight last season - surprising many a pundit as the team was expertly led by the enigmatic (if not controversial!) Marcelo Bielsa. It remains to be seen whether the club will be able to sustain a similar challenge this season (and not fall short of the ubiquitous ‘second season syndrome’). However, a club like Leeds (with a fanatical support and proud history) certainly has all the ingredients in place to cement themselves in the ‘top 10’ of English football.
August comes to a conclusion with two tricky fixtures away to Southampton and Wolves
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(venues where United have often found the going extremely tough). Wolves in particular will have to do without Nuno Espirito Santo - a manager who managed to impose his identity and style of play on the club and similar expectations will now be placed on the shoulders of Bruno Lage. Whether or not Wolves can once again be the ‘surprise package’ that perennially stun the big boys remains to be seen.
September will see the club commence its Champions League obligations but on the domestic front, the Red Devils will be facing Newcastle at Old Trafford (in a fixture that has more often than not yielded the three
points). Following the Toon Army, Ole’s men next travel to East London to take on a re-galvanised West Ham United under David Moyes. This particular fixture often evokes painful memories (especially from the Upton Park days – think 1995) - but the entertainment is often unrelenting and nailbiting. The month ends with Aston Villa (less Jack Grealish!) at Old Trafford.
A brief look at our fixture list for October/ November will certainly lead to our hearts pounding that little bit faster. October in particular sees United take on Everton (H), Leicester (A), Liverpool (H) and Tottenham (A). Four huge fixtures that will certainly have
