MANCHESTER UNITED (4-3-3)DE GEA, DARMIAN, SMALLING, BLIND, SHAW, SCHNEIDERLIN, CARRICK, DEPAY, MATA, ROONEY, YOUNGTOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (4-2-3-1)KANE, CHADLI, ERIKSEN, LAMELA, MASON, BENTALEB, ROSE, VERTONGHAN, WIMMER, DIER, LLORISThis is first game of the Barclays Premier League season; the Old Trafford game kicks off at 12:45BST to begin the exciting PL marathon.It is also a huge season for both clubs with Manchester United hoping to improve on fourth place last term – when they finished 17 points adrift of winners Chelsea – and Tottenham (who finished fifth and a massive 23 points behind the Blues) desperate to break back into the top four of the Barclays Premier League.Spurs will be hopeful of improving on a record of just one defeat (and three draws) in their last six home and away league games against the Red Devils.And United boss Louis van Gaal will not need prompting that he began his league career at Old Trafford on the opening day of last season with a shocking 2-1 reverse against Swansea City. Indeed, that was United’s first opening-day defeat since 1972.United have been busy in the summer, signing winger Memphis Depay (PSV Eindhoven), Torino right-back Matteo Darmian, midfielders Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin, from Bayern Munich and Southampton respectively, and Sampdoria goalkeeper Sergio Romero. Most should be involved against a Spurs side that were keen on Schneiderlin last season.United are without Marouane Fellaini, who is banned after receiving a red card against Hull last season. They also give tests to Marcos Rojo, Javier Hernandez and Anders Lindegaard, while Angel Di Maria left United on Wednesday for Paris St-Germain.Spurs signed Cologne’s Kevin Wimmer, Kieran Trippier of Burnley and Toby Alderweireld, who spent last season on loan at Southampton before moving to White Hart Lane permanently from Atletico Madrid.
Myanmar lifts curfew, assembly ban
YANGON, Myanmar – Myanmar lifted a curfew on Saturday and ended a ban on assembly imposed during a deadly crackdown on pro-democracy protests – the latest sign the military rulers are confident they have fully crushed the largest demonstrations in two decades. The White House dismissed the move as “cosmetic,” a day after President George W. Bush announced new penalties against the military-run government. “The actions of the regime are `cosmetic.’ What we need are signs of serious intent to move toward a democratic transition,” presidential press secretary Dana Perino said. The relaxing of restrictions imposed Sept. 25 was announced from government vehicles driven through the streets of Myanmar’s largest city, Yangon. AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREGame Center: Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, 10 a.m.“The curfew and ban on assembly has been revoked effective today because security and stability has improved,” according to the announcement issued from a speaker atop one of the vehicles. It was not immediately clear if the restrictions were also lifted in Mandalay, another major city and a focus of last month’s anti-government demonstrations. 160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set!