Manchester United get the 2024/25 Premier League campaign underway on Friday night when they take on Fulham at Old Trafford and Erik ten Hag has a few selection headaches to contend with.
The Red Devils are hoping to improve on last season’s finish of eighth in England’s top flight but, despite a busy summer in the transfer window, their Dutch manager is without a few key players as he attempts to build on the morale-boosting FA Cup win earlier this year.
Here’s United’s predicted lineup to take on the visiting Cottagers on Friday night.
GK: Andre Onana – Improved pretty markedly during the second half of last season, having played a disappointingly large role in United’s early exit from the Champions League with some shocking mistakes.
RB: Diogo Dalot – One of few players who came out of the 2023/24 campaign with an enhanced reputation, Dalot impressed with his direct running and contributions in the final third.
CB: Matthijs de Ligt – A potentially game-changing arrival from Bayern Munich, the Dutchman could slot straight into the starting XI alongside a fellow Ajax alumnus.
CB: Lisandro Martinez – The Red Devils are undeniably more comfortable in defence with their butcher in the back four. Martinez’s fitness will once again be pivotal to United’s prospects this season.
LB: Noussair Mazraoui – The second half of the double swoop from Bayern, Morocco international Mazraoui may have to show his versatility on debut at Old Trafford by playing on the left with Luke Shaw still building up his fitness.
CM: Casemiro – The 2023/24 campaign was one of Casemiro’s worst in his senior career and had a few pundits whispering those four horrible words: “His legs have gone.” Having been tipped for a transfer away during the summer, the Brazilian will be keen to prove his doubters wrong.
CM: Kobbie Mainoo – It was a stunning breakout campaign for Mainoo last time out, scoring the winner in the FA Cup final and establishing himself in England’s team at Euro 2024. He’s still only 19 years of age.
RW: Alejandro Garnacho – Dragged United back into the Community Shield with a brilliant individual effort and is now an established part of Ten Hag’s regular XI.
AM: Mason Mount – After a debut campaign that was wrecked by injuries, England international Mount has the chance to kick-start his United career and should benefit from Rasmus Hojlund’s absence with a start.
LW: Marcus Rashford – Another player with a few things to prove this season, Rashford suffered an injury scare during a summer friendly against Liverpool but started against City and should do again on Friday night.
ST: Bruno Fernandes – With Hojlund sidelined and Joshua Zirkzee perhaps not trusted just yet to start since signing from Bologna, the main goalscoring burden could fall on Fernandes. The Portugal international bagged ten Premier League strikes last term and has 54 in four and a half campaigns since arriving at Old Trafford.
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