Expected Manchester United XI vs Liverpool as Erik ten Hag forced into two changes

Erik ten Hag is expected to be forced into two changes as Manchester United line up to face Liverpool in the Premier League at Old Trafford.

Manchester United are preparing to face Liverpool at Old Trafford in their third Premier League match of the 2024/25 season.

Erik ten Hag’s team has had a mixed beginning, with a 1-0 win over Fulham and a last-minute 2-1 loss to Brighton. Despite these results, the squad has shown signs of greater organisation than the previous season.

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Liverpool, on the other hand, have made a strong start under new manager Arne Slot, winning both of their opening games 2-0 against Ipswich Town and Brentford. Slot will be keen to build on this momentum with a decisive performance at Old Trafford.

However, form and past results have often gone out of the window during a game of this magnitude, and at the same site where United defeated Liverpool 4-3 in the FA Cup and drew 2-2 against them in the Premier League, the two sides face off again.

André Onana is expected to start in goal, while Noussair Marzaoui and Diogo Dalot will almost certainly start at right back and left back, respectively.

Meanwhile, Harry Maguire’s performance against Brighton was deemed by many as below standard, and with Matthijs de Ligt now having three weeks of training and two appearances off the bench under his belt, the £38 million signing may well be handed his first start.

Should he play at Old Trafford, he will partner Lisandro Martínez. Martínez and De Ligt have been touted as Ten Hag’s best defensive pair when all centre-backs are fit to start.

Meanwhile, Casemiro is likely to start his third fixture in a row and partner again with Kobbie Mainoo as the two players continue to gain valuable early minutes in the season. Although some had hoped to see Manuel Ugarte make his debut, the new signing was not registered in time.

However, due to Mason Mount’s injury, Bruno Fernandes, who has so far been playing as the club’s furthest forward player, may join them in the middle of the park.

Ten Hag has used Mount and Fernandes as a two-pronged press so far, but with Mount ruled out for at least four weeks, Fernandes may drop into a slightly deeper attacking role to accommodate Joshua Zirkzee.

Although Zirkzee has not started for his new club thus far, he has made two appearances, scoring against Fulham and playing 45 minutes against Brighton. Zirkzee is the most obvious replacement for Mount in the side, and may operate as a loan striker or be joined in the forward line by Fernandes.

Should Zirkzee start, he will almost certainly be flanked on the right-hand side by Amad Diallo, who scored United’s sole goal at the Amex last week. However, there is a debate about who will start on the left wing.

While Alejandro Garnacho has been heavily involved in United’s attacking output since his return from Copa America, he is less match-fit than Marcus Rashford. Coupled with this, Ten Hag recently showed strong faith in the 26-year-old winger during a recent press conference.

“I was very happy with Rashy (Marcus Rashford) in pre-season, against Fulham and against Brighton. I didn’t take him off because of his performances – we need rotation,” the Dutchman told reporters on Friday afternoon.

Considering this, Ten Hag may well select Rashford on the left-hand side of the attack and may use Garnacho as an off-the-bench option during the second half when his quick thinking and electric abilities are required.

Man United expected XI

Onana, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martínez, Dalot, Casemiro, Mainoo, Fernandes, Amad, Zirkzee, Rashford.

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