Manchester United face off against Tottenham Hotspur tonight as the two teams return to competitive action after over 100 days. Four points separate the two teams, with Manchester United on 45 points in 5th and Spurs on 41 points in 8th place.
United were on a good run of form before the Premier League was halted, having been undefeated in five league games, which included wins against Chelsea and Manchester City. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team need a win against Spurs to keep the pressure on Chelsea who are three points ahead of them in fourth.
Let’s take a look at the possible Manchester United lineup for this game
Formation: 3-5-2
Ole has utilised this formation against the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea but it will be interesting to note whether he takes the same approach against a quality Tottenham team who are struggling at the moment.
Team News
Solskjaer has confirmed that Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba will be available for selection after a lengthy spell on the sidelines for both players. But defenders Axel Tuanzebe and Phil Jones will miss the game against Spurs. Everyone else in the squad is fit and will be available for Solskjaer.
Goalkeeper
David de Gea will start in goal for Manchester United and will make his 305th Premier League appearance for the club.
Defence
If the manager opts for a 3-man backline, Harry Maguire will likely be flanked by Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw.
Eric Bailly has looked good in the few games that he has played, but Victor Lindelof’s excellent performance in the tough win against Manchester City was a confidence booster and he is likely to retain his place in the Manchester United lineup.
Midfield
The return of a number of midfield options will pose a pleasant dilemma for Ole. Paul Pogba’s return is the big news but the manager will be wary of using him from the start. A gradual return to action could be the wise way to go and with teams afforded the use of five substitutes, he could be called upon in the latter stages.
Fred and Nemanja Matic have been more than decent this season, especially since the turn of the year and can be trusted to shore up the centre of the pitch for the away side.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka is likely to start on the right flank in the Manchester United lineup while Brandon Williams will be handed a start in case Ole goes with a 3-5-2 formation.
January signing Bruno Fernandes will surely start. He is expected to line up in the hole behind the two strikers.
Attack
Marcus Rashford could be handed a start and he could team up with Anthony Martial up top.
The formation is unlikely to be a rigid one and we can expect the Englishman to drop deep on occasions and link up with the likes of Williams on the left flank.
Another viable option on the right is Daniel James if Ole looks to add more width and pace to the side.
PREDICTED MANCHESTER UNITED LINEUP
