Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag may have to conjure up a new plan against Wolves on Saturday, having watched his side fail to score against Brighton and West Ham in recent weeks. With neither Anthony Martial nor Wout Weghorst producing the goods up top, a fresh recipe could be on the cards. Here, Express Sport takes you through how Ten Hag is likely to set out his starting XI at Old Trafford…
Goalkeeper: De Gea
While his long-term future at United remains uncertain, David de Gea is still Ten Hag’s number-one choice between the sticks. If the United boss has his way, the Spaniard will sign a new deal at Old Trafford, with his current contract expiring at the end of the season.
But the threat of a serious challenge to his No 1 spot, not to mention a reduction in salary, could prompt the 32-year-old to look elsewhere. Although United do not boast the defence in the Premier League this term, De Gea has the most clean sheets of any stopper in the division with 15.
Defence: Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Shaw, Dalot
Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw have been the centre-back pairing of choice since Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane were both struck down with injury. Shaw’s introduction to central defence is particularly damning for club captain Harry Maguire, who now finds himself behind the left-back in the pecking order.
While Tyrell Malacia made a positive start to life at Old Trafford after signing from Feyenoord last summer, Diogo Dalot has been asked to switch flanks in recent weeks, and he could be asked to start on the left against Wolves.
Meanwhile, on the right-hand side, Wan-Bissaka’s improvement under Ten Hag continues and the 25-year-old is in with a good chance of keeping his spot.
Midfield: Casemiro, Fernandes, Eriksen
Ten Hag shuffled things around in the 1-0 defeat at West Ham last Sunday, with Bruno Fernandes shifting out to the right flank and Weghorst featuring in attacking midfield. The experiment didn’t work, which should see Fernandes reinstated as the central playmaker on this occasion.
Slightly further back, Casemiro and Christian Eriksen remain the manager’s preferred partnership, although the likes of Fred, Marcel Sabitzer and Scott McTominay will also be chomping at the bit for a slice of the action.
Attack: Antony, Rashford, Sancho
Ten Hag played Martial without Weghorst in the 1-0 defeat to Brighton earlier this month, and then Weghorst without Martial for the trip to the London Stadium. United drew blank on both occasions, so the Dutchman may resort to Plan C and play neither.
That would mean taking Marcus Rashford from his preferred wide-left position and playing him through the middle, while Antony and Jadon Sancho are the front-runners to flank the 29-goal forward.
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