Christian Eriksen: Man United need their deep-lying playmaker to run impaired midfield vs Brentford

Erik ten Hag remains the bookmaker favourite as the first Premier League manager sacked, and he will be desperate for all three points against Brentford with a former player set to play an integral role.

The 20-time record English champions are well off the pace, languishing in 14th place, ten points behind leaders Liverpool after winning just two of their opening seven fixtures while suffering three losses: eight points from their opening seven Premier League games is their fewest at this stage of a league campaign since 1989-90 (7), when they finished 13th in the top-flight. United also failed to score in any of their last three games. They last went four league games without a goal back in April 1989.

This downturn in form coincided with Christian Eriksen’s re-introduction to first-team duties, and the experienced Danish international has been among the very few positives. Eriksen’s presence has given the Red Devils a platform to build, but the club’s other shortcomings have made any impact feel minimal or inconsequential. For one, he’s been involved in six goals in his last five games in all competitions (three goals, three assists), which came across three games leading to one success (vs Barnsley) and two draws (vs Twente and Porto).

To put this in further context: Eriksen has three goals in eight games in all competitions in 2024/25, as many as he’d scored in 72 games in 2022-23 and 2023-24 combined for Manchester United. He has three in his last three at Old Trafford, more than he scored in his first 40 on home soil for the club (2).

Eriksen is expected to start against Brentford in a deeper position alongside defensive midfielder Casemrio, with Bruno Fernandes playing behind the centre-forward. In the distant past, this represented a formidable midfield and proves the exception to the maxim: form is temporary, class is permanent, and their current performances have yet to live up to par entirely. That being said, Eriksen’s reinvention as a deep-lying playmaker could be a game-changer.

“He’s had a good season so far and is important for the team, linking key passes, being creative, composed and calm. I’m very happy with his performances,” Ten Hag noted in his pre-match press conference.

The reaction to his most recent performance, in the 2-2 draw with Switzerland for his country, has been very positive. A 69th-minute equaliser for the Danes followed a superb assist for Lazio’s Gustav Isaksen, his 11th goal involvement of 2024/25 for club and country.

As well as ending the match with one goal and one assist, Eriksen performing in a deeper role also contributed three key passes, had 59 touches and registered an 88 per cent passing accuracy. He also won each of his three attempted ground duels.

“The pass Christian made when Denmark equalised at 1-1 can only come from a player with his qualities,” said Switzerland boss Murat Yakin. “It was just a super pass. He is a fantastic player who did not make a single wrong pass throughout the match.”

Opposing the United trio will be a Bees triumvirate consisting of two of Eriksen’s compatriots, Mikkel Damsgaard and Christian Norgaard, with Vitaly Janelt completing the set. All three are enjoying strong campaigns: Nørgaard has a goal to his name, while Damsgaard has created two efforts from three big chances and one from Vitaly Janelt (two big chances created).

If the Londoners are to win at Man Utd for the first time since February 1937, then winning the midfield battle will be key. It would also mean that United lost three home league games in a row since the 1962/63 season when Sir Matt Busby was in charge of the Red Devils and ultimately finished 19th in the old First Division.