Michael Carrick will have a few tough calls to make as Manchester United line up to face Tottenham in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
Michael Carrick will be looking to maintain Manchester United’s outstanding form when Tottenham Hotspur visit Old Trafford on Saturday.
Since the former midfielder took the reins, United have recorded impressive victories over Manchester City, Arsenal, and Fulham, with Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Bruno Fernandes all back near their best.
United are firmly in the hunt for a Champions League finish and currently sit fourth in the table, making Spurs’ trip to Manchester another key opportunity to secure three more points and keep their attacking play flowing.
Tottenham’s situation is far less settled. Despite a 2-2 draw with City last weekend, Spurs remain down in 14th in the Premier League. When the sides met earlier this season in North London, Matthijs de Ligt scored late to rescue a 2-2 draw for United.
Carrick has tough calls to make
Across United’s three games under Carrick, he has only made one change to his starting XI, and this was Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu dropping out for Matheus Cunha due to injury. However, against Tottenham, there are some tough calls he may need to make.
Senne Lammens is expected to remain in goal and continue his fantastic form, and the two centre-backs ahead of him, Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martínez, will also likely remain. The defensive pair have been almost flawless in the games so far.
For the full-back decisions, Luke Shaw looks set to start his 24th Premier League game in a row for the Reds as he keeps up his fantastic form and stellar fitness. While many were initially pushing for Noussair Mazraoui to start at right-back over Diogo Dalot, the latter’s good form of late should keep him in the XI.
In midfield, Casemiro put on a Man of the Match performance last time out, securing a goal and assist against Fulham and being awarded the Premier League’s Player of the Gameweek award. He will start alongside Kobbie Mainoo, who has been brilliant in his own right of late.
Bruno Fernandes, club captain and chief creator, who has six assists in his last five appearances for the Reds, will start ahead of Mainoo and Casemiro, and will be looking to secure his first goal since Carrick’s return.
The one hard decision that comes is who starts in the front three. Cunha is on a fantastic patch of form, having assisted against Man City and scored against Arsenal and Fulham, and will start on the left wing – although he has a tendency to drift inside and join the striker upfront when needed.
The big decision is who starts at striker. Bryan Mbuemo has played each game up front so far under Carrick, but Benjamin Šeško scored a wonderful goal to secure a late three points against Fulham, and could revel in the physical battle against Tottenham’s leaky defence.
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At the same time, Amad has been essential for United at holding width on the right, but Mbeumo is equally as effective on the flank, and his delivery could be key if Šeško were to start up front.
Ultimately, Carrick has shown a tendency to stick with what he likes, and with three wins from three, there may be no changes to the starting XI. However, do not be surprised if Šeško were to emerge off the bench early in the second half should the game need to be shaken up.
United predicted XI vs Tottenham
Lammens, Dalot, Maguire, Martínez, Shaw, Casemiro, Mainoo, Amad, Fernandes, Cunha, Mbeumo.
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