Manchester United host Ipswich Town in their second match of the new Premier League season.
Hull City v Manchester United - Premier League 2026/27
Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo could come into the Man Utd starting XI (Image: Getty)
Manchester United need to bounce back from a horror start when they face Ipswich Town in their second match of the new Premier League season this Sunday. The Red Devils started their 2026/27 campaign with a dour 2-0 defeat at newly-promoted Hull City last weekend and now face another top-flight newcomer in the Tractor Boys.
Michael Carrick is likely to make some tweaks to his starting line-up against Ipswich at Old Trafford. But who could drop out of the team? Our Express Sport panel have decided the XI they think Carrick should go with for what feels like a must-win match...
Carrick should be brutal. There were a few players well, well off it against Hull and they should pay the price. In fact, the manager should change more than half his starting XI.
Harry Maguire and Ayden Heaven struggled on Humberside and Leny Yoro and Lisandro Martinez should come in.
Martinez is United's best centre-half on the ball which can help open space in midfield against an Ipswich team who will surely be content with trying to shut the game down and frustrate the hosts then hit them on the counter-attack.
Noussair Mazraoui drops out for Diogo Dalot at right-back but Luke Shaw stays in at left-back and is asked to bomb forward and combine with Marcus Rashford.
Carlos Baleba hasn't had long to get accustomed so I'd be earmarking Everton away as his first start next Sunday instead. But Kobbie Mainoo replaces Andrey Santos in midfield.
Up top, Benjamin Sesko needs to be the focal point of the attack. Bryan Mbeumo is moved wide right and asked to stretch the Ipswich defence as much as possible, like Rashford on the other side, to give Bruno Fernandes runs to aim for.
Matheus Cunha drops to the bench with a view to replacing Sesko on 60 minutes or so.
United cannot afford to lose to Ipswich after last weekend's shock defeat at Hull. To avoid more disappointment, changes to the line-up are required.
Diogo Dalot and Lisandro Martinez should come in at the back, replacing Noussair Mazraoui and Ayden Heaven. In midfield, Kobbie Mainoo deserves a start in place of Andrey Santos.
This weekend's game will also be a perfect opportunity to start Marcus Rashford, who could kickstart his season with a goal against the newly-promoted Blues.
Benjamin Sesko should also play up front if he is fit enough; otherwise, it will be Matheus Cunha again.
Hull City v Manchester United - Premier League 2026/27
Benjamin Sesko will hope to start for Man Utd against Ipswich (Image: Getty)
Manchester United need to rip it up and start again after that horror show at Hull.
Lisandro Martinez should be the first name back in. His partnership with Harry Maguire or Matthijs de Ligt has provided United with their most reliable defensive platform in recent years.
Kobbie Mainoo should also walk straight back into the XI after his extended World Cup break. He showed under Michael Carrick last season that he can be a key part of a winning United side.
Andrey Santos looks the natural partner in midfield, with Youri Tielemans offering a too similar profile to Mainoo. But it’s in attack where things get really interesting...
Marcus Rashford is United’s most dangerous left winger, and his cameo at Hull was blunted by Matheus Cunha repeatedly drifting into the same spaces.
With Cunha benched, Rashford should have far more room to hurt Ipswich, provided Benjamin Sesko is fit enough to start.
Bryan Mbeumo was United’s biggest threat last week. If he finds himself in the same positions again, it surely won’t be long before he gets on the scoresheet.
After the disaster of last weekend, expect Michael Carrick to make plenty of changes for the Ipswich match this weekend.
Diogo Dalot is the obvious pick at right back, while Lisandro Martinez should be ushered into the side.
What's the point in spending big on Carlos Baleba if you aren't going to throw him in there straight away?
Especially given United's midfield deficiencies vs Hull. And up front, it's the three guys who were brought into the squad this time last year.