(4-2-1-3) Man United starting XI against Brentford revealed as Erik Ten Hag makes heavy changes amid injury setbacks- £35m star gets a start in the attack and Bruno Fernandez is surprisingly on bench

Manchester United is set to face Brentford at Old Trafford this Saturday, hoping to break a troubling streak of five consecutive games without a win across all competitions. This Premier League match marks the first meeting between the two sides since their dramatic 1-1 draw in March, when Mason Mount’s stoppage-time goal was equalized by Brentford’s Kristoffer Ajer in the dying moments.

Despite mounting pressure, Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag remains in charge. He continues to lead the team through one of their worst starts to a Premier League season, with only eight points from seven games. This leaves United languishing in 14th place, closer to the relegation zone than the coveted top four, and trailing league leaders Liverpool by 10 points. Concerns over Ten Hag’s future were briefly addressed in a lengthy executive meeting in London, which included figures like Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Joel Glazer. However, the club has chosen not to comment publicly on the matter.

The focus is now firmly on Ten Hag to reverse United’s fortunes. Their home record against Brentford provides some optimism, as the Red Devils have won their last five home league meetings against the Bees with a commanding 13-2 aggregate score. Brentford’s last victory at Old Trafford came in 1937, giving the home side a historical advantage.

Brentford, managed by Thomas Frank, have developed a reputation for starting games quickly. They have opened the scoring within the first 80 seconds in each of their last four matches. However, their early leads haven’t always translated into victories, with draws against heavyweights like Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, and West Ham United. Brentford did manage to secure a thrilling 5-3 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers before the international break.

Frank’s side has been strong at home, collecting all 10 of their Premier League points this season on their own turf. They currently sit in 11th place, two points ahead of Manchester United, and just three points behind the top four. However, Brentford has struggled away from home, losing all three of their away matches so far this season to Liverpool, Manchester City, and Tottenham. They will be hoping to avoid a fourth consecutive away defeat in the league for the first time since the early 1960s.

History is not on Brentford’s side in this fixture. They have only managed to win one of their last 10 meetings with Manchester United across all competitions, suffering seven defeats and conceding 24 goals in the process. However, with United struggling for form, Frank’s resilient side will believe they have a chance to cause an upset.

In terms of team news, Manchester United will be without Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire, both sidelined with muscle injuries. Leny Yoro, Luke Shaw, and Tyrell Malacia also remain unavailable as they continue to recover. Meanwhile, Manuel Ugarte, who sustained a knock on international duty, will face a late fitness test, along with Mason Mount. On the positive side, Alejandro Garnacho, Amad Diallo, and Noussair Mazraoui have all returned to training and could feature in this match after recent recoveries.

There are also rumors that Ten Hag might make tactical adjustments, possibly deploying Jonny Evans at left-back, with Diogo Dalot shifting to right-back. Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez are expected to return as the center-back pairing.

Brentford, on the other hand, are dealing with their own injury concerns. Key players like Rico Henry, Josh Dasilva, Igor Thiago, Aaron Hickey, and Gustavo Nunes remain sidelined, while Mathias Jensen is unlikely to be fit in time for Saturday’s game. A late decision will be made on Yoane Wissa, who is back in training after missing four games due to an ankle injury. Mikkel Damsgaard and Christian Norgaard will also be assessed after missing out on international duty.

Frank may consider switching to a three-at-the-back formation, with Sepp van den Berg, Ethan Pinnock, and Nathan Collins anchoring the defense. Kristoffer Ajer and Keane Lewis-Potter could be used as wing-backs. Brentford’s attack will likely be spearheaded by Bryan Mbeumo, who has been in excellent form, netting six goals in seven Premier League games, including three in his last three matches. If fit, Wissa may join him in attack, with other options like Kevin Schade or Fabio Carvalho waiting in the wings.

Predicted starting lineup for Manchester United: Onana; Dalot, De Ligt, Martinez, Evans; Eriksen, Casemiro; Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Zirkzee.