3 Head-To-Head Battles That Will Decide Man Utd Vs Newcastle United

2. DEFENSIVE-MIDFIELD - Morgan Schneiderlin (MUFC) Vs Vurnon Anita (NUFC)

Morgan Schneiderlin has already been lauded by Jamie Carragher as being the "signing of the summer", and the former Southampton midfielder has slotted seamlessly into the Manchester United midfield this season. A standout performer on the south coast as the Saints rose from the third tier of English football to the Premier League, Schneiderlin is now plying his trade in the UEFA Champions League. Vurnon Anita on the other hand has been given a new lease of life on Tyneside under Steve McClaren. The Dutchman was exceptional during Newcastle's 2-0 victory over West Ham United in May, and his technical proficiency on the ball has convinced McClaren to utilise him as one of his two double-pivots, alongside Jack Colback, in the opening two matches of the Magpies' campaign. When comparing their stats from last season, Schneiderlin made 26 appearances for Southampton in the Premier League (24 as a starter, two off the bench), scored four goals and contributed one assist. Anita, meanwhile, played on 19 occasions (17 as a starter, two off the bench) but failed to provide a solitary goal or assist. In terms of their roles as defensive-midfielders, or "pivots", Schneiderlin also leads Anita in terms of tackles per game (3.7 to 2.3), although the Dutchman does have a better disciplinary record. While Anita did not receive a single card last season, Schneiderlin was booked on five occasions and sent-off once. Some may argue that shows Schneiderlin is willing to commit a foul when necessary, but he is also more liable to be suspended than Anita. Passing is also an essential part of a midfielder's game, and Schneiderlin again comes out on top in this department. He averages more key passes per game than Anita (0.8 to 0.3), and completes a greater ratio of passes than the Dutchman (89.3% to 81.1%). Finally, from an attacking point of view, Schneiderlin marginally shades the dribbles per game department (0.6 to 0.5), but he averages three times as many shots per match than this NUFC counterpart (1.2 to 0.4).

Verdict: Morgan Schneiderlin You do not spend £24 million on a midfielder if they are not something special - even if you're Manchester United - and Schneiderlin is certainly that. Not only is he physically stronger and more powerful than Vurnon Anita, he also leads his Dutch counterpart in just about every single department crucial to being a defensive-midfielder.