Manchester United told they have two unknowns in “team to beat” starting XI

Manchester United will kick off their 2023/24 Premier League campaign against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford.

In a fixture where Erik ten Hag has the chance to secure an early statement win for Manchester United during the opening Premier League weekend, there has been debate as to who will start at Old Trafford on Monday evening.

After signing three new players so far this window in André Onana, Mason Mount, and Rasmus Højlund, many are expecting further shifts from the XI that Ten Hag took over in July 2022 – but former United striker Louis Saha still feels there are question marks over two positions in the squad to face Wolves, but reckons the side are still “one of the teams to beat” this season.

Read More: Premier League announce Manchester United vs Wolves match officials list

“I believe they will win against Wolves,” he told BetFred. “I say that with no disrespect to Wolves, but Manchester United are going to be one of the teams to beat this season.

“They need to start the season against Wolves with this mentality and I’m sure they will come out victorious.

“It’s difficult to say what the starting XI against Wolves will be, but it will be André Onana in goal, Raphaël Varane and Lisandro Martínez at centre-back and Luke Shaw at left-back.

“I really like Aaron Wan-Bissaka and I believe he will start over Diogo Dalot on Monday. Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes will be two of the midfielders in the starting line-up and Marcus Rashford and Antony will be two of the forward three.

“However, I’m unsure which two players will occupy the vacant positions in the forward line and midfield.”

Despite this uncertainty, Saha also believes that United will make a much stronger start to the Premer League season than last year, when the club lost back-to-back games against Brighton and Brentford.

“I have no doubt that they will make a strong start to the new Premier League season. The foundations are there and last season they showed that they’re a very strong squad. They made a few mistakes that punished them in a couple of games during the previous campaign, but I can’t see them making those mistakes this season.

“The opposition will respect them this campaign and I’m sure about this. The fans have every right to be excited by this team’s potential next season.”