Manchester United take on Fulham on the road in today’s Premier League clash.
The Red Devils have picked up just four points from as many league games this term, and recently bowed out of the Carabao Cup to high-flying Brighton & Hove Albion.
They will be keen to make amends after back-to-back losses, and manager Michael Carrick could make at least eight changes from the 3-2 loss to the Seagulls in midweek.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Predicted Line-up:
Senne Lammens is United’s undisputed goalkeeper for the league games. Karl Darlow made his Red Devils debut against Brighton and had a poor outing. Lammens should return between the sticks at Craven Cottage.
The backline should witness three changes. We anticipate Diogo Dalot, Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven to drop to the bench. Centre-backs Yoro and Heaven had an evening to forget against Brighton with several positional errors, while right-back Dalot was completely overawed by Malick Yalcouye’s pace.
Noussair Mazraoui, who started as the makeshift left-back on Wednesday, should move to the opposite end against Fulham. Luke Shaw has finally recovered from a minor injury, which has kept him sidelined for the last two matches, and the £27 million signing should be an assured starter at left-back. He has travelled with the squad to west London.
Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez should be obvious starters in the heart of the defence.
Youri Tielemans was one of the better performers from midweek, but the same can’t be said about Andrey Santos. The youngster has yet to make a significant contribution since his summer move and looks set to be replaced by Kobbie Mainoo in central midfield.
Mason Mount scored on his return to the starting XI, but should still make way for captain Bruno Fernandes in the number 10 position. Bryan Mbeumo and Marcus Rashford are likely to start on the right and left wing respectively despite the latter missing a clear-cut chance to equalise in midweek.
There is a temptation to hand a full league debut to Shea Lacey on the right flank after his debut goal against Brighton, but the need for more defensive awareness means he could be restricted to a bench role.
Benjamin Sesko is a doubt for the game, having not travelled. Regardless, we would pick Matheus Cunha to lead the line. He has four goals and an assist in six meetings against Fulham. Four of those goal contributions have come at Craven Cottage.
How Man Utd could line up vs Fulham
Stats from Transfermarkt.com