If there’s one thing Manchester United fans have learned about manager Erik ten Hag in the last two-and-a-bit seasons, it’s that he’s stubborn.
That stubbornness often comes through in his team selections, when he seems to plug away with underperforming players rather than pick those on form.
We think this will be the theme again tomorrow when the Dutchman picks his starting XI to face Liverpool at Old Trafford.
The team will definitely be changed from the one that started against Brighton last weekend, as Mason Mount is ruled out with a hamstring injury.
However, while most fans will be expecting a first start for new signing Josh Zirkzee, we think Ten Hag will play with Marcus Rashford at centre forward and bring in Alejandro Garnacho on the left wing. Playing the off-form Rashford up top would be a huge gamble in many people’s eyes, but he does have a tendency to find the back of the net on big occasions.
Bruno Fernandes will play at number 10 with Amad Diallo keeping his spot on the right.
With Jadon Sancho and Facu Pellistri now gone and Rasmus Hojlund not fully recovered from his own hamstring problem, there are few other forward options other than Antony.
In midfield, Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo should start again. Scott McTominay has joined Napoli, leaving Christian Eriksen and youngster Toby Collyer as the only other options.
New signing Manuel Ugarte has not been registered in time and in any event is not match fit.
In defence, Andre Onana will be in goal with Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot the full backs.
Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are still not fit and Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been sold.
The big question is who will partner Lisandro Martinez in central defence. New signing Matthijs de Ligt has only made two substitute appearances so far for United and did not have a pre-season at Bayern Munich. On the other hand, Harry Maguire was poor against Brighton last time around and made a mistake that led directly to a goal.
We think on balance Ten Hag will stick with Maguire as it could be too much of a baptism of fire to throw De Ligt straight in to one of the world’s biggest matches. But there could be a surprise.
Jonny Evans is also an option but Victor Lindelof is reportedly still injured.
Ineos have sold or loaned out so many players in this window that the first team squad is down to bare bones. The subs bench could reflect that, with only Altay Bayindir, Evans, De Ligt, Eriksen, Collyer, Antony and Zirkzee available if our prediction is correct.
There will therefore need to be a couple of other youngsters on there in addition to Collyer. Any two of Harry Amass, Jack Fletcher and Ethan Wheatley could feature.
Here, then, is our predicted XI for tomorrow’s 4pm kick off:
We’ll have confirmed team news at 2.45pm tomorrow.
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