[3-4-2-1]: Rashford in midfield, Mainoo and Mount partner in forward position- Man United’s predicted lineup vs Everton as Ruben Amorim announced starting XI openly
Ruben Amorim is expected to make a number of changes as he takes charge of Manchester United in a Premier League match at Old Trafford for the first time this weekend.
The Red Devils host struggling Everton on Sunday in a first home top-flight fixture in charge for the club’s new Portuguese head coach, who has so far overseen a draw at Ipswich and entertaining Europa League victory over Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt.
Thursday’s win in Europe was a tiring effort as United led from the first minute courtesy of Alejandro Garnacho but then fell behind 2-1 barely 20 minutes later before goals either side of half-time from Rasmus Hojlund saw them celebrate their maiden victory under Erik ten Hag’s highly-rated successor.
Amorim made four of his allotted five substitutions against Bodo/Glimt before or on the hour mark, admitting that his high-pressing style was challenging as he bids to improve the fitness of the squad.
“We were more dangerous, but we will have to change the players,” he said. “You can feel it. We try to press all the time.
“I think in the last 10 minutes was tough and it’s different for the players. I felt Rasmus was dead. I felt that some players were really, really tired. Antony came from injury. He had to go out of the game.”
Plotting Amorim’s exact XI for Everton after two games in which he used markedly different teams is a difficult assignment, though we can be sure that undisputed No1 Andre Onana will remain in goal.
The versatile Noussair Mazraoui has played both matches so far in the back three and earned high praise from his manager, who will also have one eye firmly fixed on Wednesday night’s trip to Arsenal.
Matthijs de Ligt has also started both of Amorim’s games in charge so far, while the fit-again Lisandro Martinez replaced Jonny Evans in the backline on Thursday after recovering from a back issue.
Amorim is uncertain whether any of Leny Yoro, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire or Evans will return.
The England defender has finally recovered from a calf injury to make his first club appearances since February off the bench, both times coming into the back three rather than as one of the wing-backs.
He could earn a start there this weekend if Amorim wants to change one of his centre-backs, or alternatively he could yet put Shaw at wing-back to replace Amad Diallo and shift Diogo Dalot over to the right after playing Tyrell Malacia and Antony on Thursday.
Captain Bruno Fernandes played in a deeper role for United in the Europa League after he operated as one of two No10s against Ipswich, and it will be intriguing to see how many times that is repeated moving forward.
We expect him here to move back forward alongside the in-form Garnacho, with Marcus Rashford likely having done enough to keep his starting spot after netting the first goal of the Amorim reign within 81 seconds at Portman Road last weekend.
Amorim said after the Ipswich game that using Rashford as a lone striker was not his long-term plan and Hojlund obviously impressed on Thursday, though the manager’s comments about the latter’s fitness mean he could well be coming off the bench against Everton.
There are plenty of options for United, who should surely keep Amorim favourite Manuel Ugarte in midfield. Who starts alongside him is up for debate, with Casemiro and Christian Eriksen having been the pairing against Ipswich before Fernandes dropped deeper and partnered Ugarte in Europe.
Kobbie Mainoo has yet to feature under the new boss after recovering from injury, so perhaps this is where Amorim takes his first proper look at the England international in match action.
Perhaps as soon as this weekend we could see Fernandes staying deeper and Rashford operating as one of those twin No10s along with Garnacho and behind Hojlund, if the latter is fit enough to start twice in four days in Amorim’s demanding system. Options aplenty for the new regime.
Predicted Manchester United XI (3-4-3): Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez; Diallo, Ugarte, Mainoo, Dalot; Fernandes, Garnacho, Rashford
Injured: Lindelof
Doubts: Yoro, Maguire, Evans
Time and date: 1:30pm GMT on Sunday December 1, 2024
