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A league debut should be a memorable moment, but Toby Collier’s Premier League debut will be memorable for all the oddest reasons.
It was difficult to find positives in Manchester United’s crushing defeat at home to rivals Liverpool, with the Reds’ midfield performance proving to be the worst on a blisteringly hot afternoon.
But buried in the middle of the park was a glimmer of hope: academy graduate Collier, brought on by Erik ten Hag to replace Casemiro’s disastrous first-half performance.
The 20-year-old worked hard and put in an unspectacular but effective performance that went a long way in helping Brazil to dispel their first-half fears.
According to SofaScore, he fought hard and won 100% of the competition, which is a world away from Casemiro’s level. Also, his four tackles helped reduce Liverpool’s attacking threat to some extent.
His performance impressed MUTV pundits who were quick to find positives after the game, with former Treble-winning defender David May describing him as “outstanding” and adding: “He’s been really, really good.”
May and former Red Phil Bardsley both acknowledged the immense pressure the youngster faced, with Bardsley saying: “Once he got his footing in the game he didn’t look out of place and he should be proud.”
The Sofascore algorithm backs this up, with Collier rated 7.1 as United’s joint-best player on the night alongside captain Bruno Fernandes.
He found key passes for his opponents, completing 15 of his 19 passes, one more than the Portuguese creator, who failed to complete a single key pass.
If United want to smile despite such a poor performance, the sight of Collier at the heart of midfield alongside Carrington native Kobi Mainu will warm their hearts.
But despite his impressive performance, it’s unlikely that Collier will return to the team right away.
With nearly two weeks until United’s next game, deadline day signing Manuel Ugarte has plenty of time to get up to speed and there’s also the possibility of Ten Hag joining Casemiro.
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