Several days ago, I wrote that Louis van Gaal has enjoyed a terrific start as Manchester United manager, with the club touring the United States over the last few weeks. On Monday night, the club continued that record with a comeback win over Liverpool in the International Champions Cup Final. But with the new Premier League season approaching quickly, will the success from this tour carry over to competitive matches?

This year marked the third time since 2010 that Manchester United has toured America. In 2010, the Red Devils lost one tour match (and a second in Mexico), but went on to win the Premier League. The following year, United won all their tour matches, but lost the EPL title to rivals Manchester City on a dramatic final day. It should be noted that in both 2010 & 2011, the club faced only one European opponent (Celtic and Barcelona, respectively) on the preseason tour; in 2014, Van Gaal’s side faced only one MLS club, the Los Angeles Galaxy.  With Van Gaal becoming United’s third coach in as many seasons (fourth if you count Ryan Giggs’s interim era), supporters will be eager to see the positive results from the last few weeks carry into the new season.

United will also be experiencing change with the roster; veteran defenders Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand, and Nemanja Vidic are among several players who have left the club this summer. Van Gaal has signed both Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw, but could see more players leave Old Trafford before the deadline.

Because of their seventh-place finish last year, Manchester United won’t be competing in any European competitions in 2014-15. Their three chances for silverware will come from the Premier League, the FA Cup, and the Capital One Cup. Liverpool were in this scenario in 2013-14, and they would finish second in the league. Can United learn from what their rivals nearly achieved last campaign? We’ll find out beginning August 16, when Swansea visits Old Trafford.