Carrick makes four changes | Predicted Man Utd XI vs Man City as £27m star returns
Manchester United will be aiming to return to winning ways when they host Manchester City in today’s early Premier League kick-off at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils have drawn their last three league matches and recently bowed out of the FA Cup after a 2-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion in the third round.
Michael Carrick has been placed on interim charge recently after Ruben Amorim’s sacking and the 44-year-old will be aiming to make a strong start at home.
United are currently three points behind fourth-placed Liverpool and one adrift of fifth-placed Brentford. They can boost their Champions League pursuit by beating their arch-rivals.
Ahead of the Manchester derby, Carrick could make at least four changes from last weekend.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Predicted Line-up:
Senne Lammens is an undisputed starter in goal and will be eyeing the third clean sheet of his United career. The Belgian has been circumspect in his positioning from set-pieces and needs to step up for the derby.
In defence, there should be a couple of changes from the Seagulls loss. Leny Yoro and Patrick Dorgu should make way for Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw in the right centre-back and left-back positions respectively.
United could come up against a quick dribbling duo of Jeremy Doku and Antoine Semenyo on the left wing. We would avoid playing a left-footer in Ayden Heaven at right centre-back. Yoro’s recent poor form means Maguire could get the nod for his experience and ability to stand out in the big games. He will be partnered with Lisandro Martinez.
Shaw, who was signed for £27 million back in 2014, has likewise stood out in the crunch matches for United, and his defensive discipline should see him start over Dorgu at left-back. Diogo Dalot is guaranteed to slot in at right-back with Noussair Mazraoui out at the Africa Cup of Nations with Morocco, who face Senegal in the final.
In midfield, Casemiro should be reinstated alongside Kobbie Mainoo after another lacklustre display from Manuel Ugarte. Ugarte did several things right against Brighton, but was guilty of ball-watching in the lead-up to Danny Welbeck’s FA Cup third-round winner. He should be dropped.
Further forward, there could be one change. Bryan Mbeumo is pretty much guaranteed to start on the right wing ahead of Mason Mount after his return from AFCON. Matheus Cunha should have had an early assist last weekend, had Dalot converted his one-on-one scoring chance.
Cunha may not be in the best of form, but he should still start on the left wing ahead of Amad Diallo, who could come in as a super sub. Bruno Fernandes is poised to continue as the attacking midfielder, while Sesko should lead the line again. He has netted three goals in his last two outings.
How Man Utd could line up vs Man City today
Article written by Sri Aswin .