Richarlison takes the eye while City and United have problems to solve after a series of Saturday surprises
Pre-season is supposedly a duff barometer of the campaign ahead. The main aim is to gain fitness and audition systems of play versus opposition preparing for their own season. Manchester United usually return from the summer money-spinners with a winning record and conscious that the real stuff of the Premier League is about to begin. Yet in the US this summer, Erik ten Hag’s side won only the first game, against Arsenal, and lost to Wrexham, Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid: to this observer, United’s form was a genuine warning of a misfiring unit and, so far, it has duly struggled – badly. Rasmus Højlund is an apt shorthand for United’s problems: the £64m striker was again starved of chances against Crystal Palace. This has to improve – fast. Jamie Jackson
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