Preseason Roundup: Liverpool Thrash Man Utd, Haaland Stars, Aston Villa Struggles

The Premier League’s 2024-25 season is fast approaching, and preseason action is providing fans with a glimpse of what’s to come. Saturday saw a series of exciting matches, with teams eager to fine-tune their tactics and players vying to impress ahead of the new campaign.

Free-flowing Liverpool Cruise Past Man Utd

Liverpool’s pre-season preparations continued to impress with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Manchester United. New manager Arne Slot’s influence was evident in their fluid attacking play and clinical finishing. Fábio Carvalho’s early opener, followed by goals from Curtis Jones and Konstantinos Tsimikas, showcased Liverpool’s dominance throughout the match. United struggled to contain their opponents, with Mason Mount and Marcus Rashford failing to make a significant impact. The injury to Will Fish further compounded United’s woes.

Haaland Shines Against Sloppy Chelsea

Erling Haaland was the star of the show as Manchester City cruised to a 4-2 win over Chelsea. Despite the absence of several key players, City’s attacking machine was in full flow, with Haaland scoring two goals in the opening five minutes. Chelsea’s defensive errors, including a misplaced pass from Moises Caicedo, gifted Haaland two more goals. While Raheem Sterling and Noni Madueke managed to grab consolation goals for Chelsea, City’s victory was never in doubt.

Aston Villa Lose Three in a Row

Aston Villa’s pre-season struggles continued with a 1-0 loss to Club América, their third consecutive defeat. Unai Emery’s new signings, including Youri Tielemans and Pau Torres, were given a chance to impress, but the team struggled to find their rhythm. Leon Bailey and John McGinn came closest to scoring for Villa, but both hit the woodwork. Club América’s Illian Hernández secured the win with a low drive, leaving Emery with plenty to ponder ahead of the new season.