Caretaker manager Michael Carrick will take charge of Manchester United when they face Villarreal in Tuesday’s Champions League clash. Carrick will take over from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and will hope to get off to a winning start.
The Red Devils are currently tied on points with Villarreal at the top of the table and will need a win in Spain to secure a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League. A draw would also be enough if Atalanta drop points against Young Boys.
They are in a bad run of form, losing four out of their previous five Premier League games and head to Villarreal off the back of a shock 4-1 defeat to Watford, which happened to be Solskjaer’s last game in charge as Manchester United manager.
Manchester United Team News
Luke Shaw was substituted for concussion protocol against Watford after he was flattened with a collision with an opponent, which should rule him out of the Villarreal game. French duo Paul Pogba and Raphael Varane are unavailable due to injury, while Mason Greenwood will remain absent having tested positive for COVID-19.
It is also unlikely we will see Edinson Cavani, who is yet to fully recover from his tendon problem in time to be a part of the travelling Manchester United squad.
Predicted Manchester United Lineup vs Villarreal (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper
Michael Carrick is not expected to make wholesale changes to the Manchester United lineup, but he’s bound to get in a few tweaks to the side that lost at Watford on Saturday. That being said, he’s likely to stick with David de Gea in goal against Villarreal.
Defence
Harry Maguire was sent for two bookable offences against Watford but that doesn’t rule him out of Tuesday’s game at Villarreal. Maguire should make the Manchester United lineup, and Eric Bailly could get the nod ahead of Victor Lindelof to partner the captain at the heart of the Manchester United backline.
Predicted Manchester United Lineup vs Villarreal
Aaron Wan-Bissaka was poor just like his teammates against Watford but he’s set to continue at right-back with Alex Telles likely to replace Shaw at left-back.
Midfield
Despite getting dominated for the majority of the game, Manchester United were lucky to have won against Villarreal at Old Trafford. Knowing the midfield battles are going to play a big role in defining the outcome of the game, Carrick could look to make changes to his side’s midfield.
Fred could come into the Manchester United lineup after being an unused substitute against Watford. Scott McTominay struggled on Saturday and was hauled off at half-time. Donny Van de Beek replaced McTominay and impressed in the second half, scoring the Reds’ only goal at Vicarage Road.
Van de Beek’s performance against Watford could be enough for him to start in Spain, with Bruno Fernandes dropping a little deeper than his usual position to avoid Manchester United getting overrun in midfield.
Attack
Marcus Rashford was hauled off at half-time on Saturday after he failed to make any sort of impact. Jesse Lingard could be handed a rare start with the Englishman eager to make a mark in the upcoming Champions League fixture.
Carrick is likely to persist with Jadon Sancho on the right following his decent showing in the second half at Watford. With Cavani out injured, Cristiano Ronaldo will continue leading the line for Manchester United. The Portuguese will be hoping for a happy return to Spain, as Manchester United look to clinch a place in the knockout stages of the competition.
