Over the course of Erik ten Hag’s tenure at Manchester United, one thing has become abundantly clear to fans: the Dutch manager is resolute, some might even say obstinate, in his decisions. This characteristic has repeatedly manifested in his team selections, where he often persists with underperforming players rather than opting for those currently in better form.
This theme is likely to play out once again as Ten Hag prepares to select his starting lineup for tomorrow’s clash against Liverpool at Old Trafford. Changes are inevitable following the team’s previous outing against Brighton, particularly with Mason Mount sidelined due to a hamstring injury. Despite the anticipation surrounding new signing Josh Zirkzee, who many fans believe is due for his first start, we expect Ten Hag to stick to his guns. This likely means deploying Marcus Rashford as the central striker, with Alejandro Garnacho stepping in on the left wing. Rashford’s recent dip in form might make this a risky move in the eyes of many supporters, but his knack for delivering in high-stakes matches cannot be overlooked.
In the attacking midfield role, Bruno Fernandes is expected to continue as the playmaker, with Amad Diallo retaining his spot on the right flank. Given the departures of Jadon Sancho and Facu Pellistri, along with Rasmus Hojlund’s ongoing recovery from a hamstring injury, Ten Hag’s options in the forward positions are limited, with Antony standing out as the main alternative.
The midfield duo is likely to feature Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo once more. The departure of Scott McTominay to Napoli further narrows the choices in this area, leaving Christian Eriksen and young talent Toby Collyer as the only other midfielders available. New acquisition Manuel Ugarte has not been registered in time for this match and, in any case, is not yet match-fit.
In defense, Andre Onana will resume his role as the goalkeeper, with Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot expected to fill the full-back positions. With Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia still on the injury list and Aaron Wan-Bissaka recently sold, the backline options are somewhat constrained. The central defensive pairing, however, presents a significant dilemma. Lisandro Martinez is a certainty, but the choice of his partner is less clear. Although new signing Matthijs de Ligt has only appeared as a substitute twice since joining from Bayern Munich and missed out on a full pre-season, Harry Maguire’s shaky performance against Brighton, including a costly error, raises doubts about his reliability. On balance, we predict Ten Hag might lean towards keeping Maguire in the lineup, wary of the risks associated with thrusting De Ligt into such a high-pressure fixture so soon. That said, the possibility of a surprise selection cannot be ruled out, with Jonny Evans also in the mix, though Victor Lindelof is reportedly still sidelined with injury.
The club’s transfer activities, dominated by Ineos, have seen numerous players either sold or loaned out, leaving the first-team squad somewhat threadbare. As a result, the substitutes’ bench could have a makeshift feel to it, potentially featuring Altay Bayindir, Evans, De Ligt, Eriksen, Collyer, Antony, and Zirkzee, based on our projections. This shortage might force Ten Hag to call up additional youth players, with Harry Amass, Jack Fletcher, and Ethan Wheatley among the candidates likely to be included.
In summary, here is our predicted lineup for Manchester United’s 4 pm kickoff tomorrow.
