Manchester United get the 2024/25 Premier League campaign underway on Friday night when they face Fulham at Old Trafford and Erik ten Hag has a selection headache to contend with.
The Red Devils are hoping to improve on last season’s eighth-placed finish 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 tries to build on a morale-boosting FA Cup victory. earlier this year.
Here is United’s predicted line-up to face the visiting Cottagers on Friday night.
GK: Andre Onana – Improved dramatically in the second half of last season, embarrassingly contributing to United’s exit from the Champions League through shocking errors.
RB: Diogo Dalot – One of the few players to come out of the 2023/24 campaign with an improved reputation, Dalot impressed with his direct runs and contributions in the final third.
CB: Matthijs de Ligt – A game-changing arrival from Bayern Munich, the Dutchman could be included in the XI alongside his Ajax teammate.
CB: Lisandro Martinez – The Red Devils are very comfortable defending with their butcher at the back. Martinez’s fitness will also be crucial to United’s hopes this season.
LB: Noussair Mazraoui – The second part of a double swoop from Bayern, Morocco international Mazraoui may have to show his first flexibility at Old Trafford by playing on the left with Luke Shaw building his fitness.
CM: Casemiro – The 2023/24 campaign was one of Casemiro’s worst in his long career and had several experts whispering those four dreaded words: “His legs are gone.” Having been tipped for a transfer in the summer, the Brazilian will be keen to prove the doubters wrong.
CM: Kobbie Mainoo – It was an amazing campaign for Mainoo last week, scoring in the final of the FA Cup and proving himself in the England squad for Euro 2024. He is still only 19 years old.
RW: Alejandro Garnacho – Dragged United back into the Community Shield with an individual effort and is now a regular part of Ten Hag’s regular XI.
AM: Mason Mount – After an injury-hit first campaign, England international Mount has a chance to make his United debut and should benefit from Rasmus Hojlund’s absence from the start.
LW: Marcus Rashford – Another player with a few things to prove this season, Rashford suffered an injury scare during a friendly against Liverpool in the summer but started against City and should do so again on Friday night.
ST: Bruno Fernandes – With Hojlund left out and Joshua Zirkzee perhaps not expected to start since signing from Bologna, the bulk of the scoring burden may fall on Fernandes. The Portuguese scored 10 Premier League strikes last season and has 54 in four-and-a-half campaigns since arriving at Old Trafford.
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