The long awaited Premier League football will be back tonight, and what is bigger than a mouthwatering clash between the Red Devils and Leicester at Old Trafford?
Manchester United will likely line up in a 4-3-3 for their opening fixture of the new Premier League season against Leicester City.
Jose Mourinho has something of a selection headache given the amount of injuries to his players going into the 2018/19 campaign, and the fact a lot of his team represented their respective nations at the World Cup.
Despite his exploits for Spain, David De Gea is expected to start between the sticks for United, who successfully fended off Real Madrid for his services this summer, with Los Blancos landing Thibaut Courtois from Chelsea instead.
At right-back you can expect to see a man who was apparently sold more than once in this summer’s transfer in Matteo Darmian, illustrating just how short United are in defence due to injuries. Antonio Valencia, who captained the team on several occasions last season is injured, new signing Diogo Dalot also joined the club having not recovered from a surgery he underwent in April.
Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly – neither of whom were at the World Cup – will likely fill the centre-back positions. Man United were heavily linked with Leicester Defender Harry Maguire through out the entire transfer period but the defender will be on the other side of the battle line. Do not forget that Maguire scored the equalizing goal when these two teams last met meaning Smalling and Bailly will have to single him out when defending set pieces
The previously out-of-favour Luke Shaw is set to start left-back, due to an injury to Ashley Young.
Have played in some amazing stadiums this summer but there is no better feeling than walking out infront of the OT crowd. Ready for the new season! ??? pic.twitter.com/SHshMEx3Lw
— Ashley Young (@youngy18) August 9, 2018
Moving into midfielder and a number of first team players are set to be rested.
Paul Pogba, who won the World Cup with France, will likely miss the fixture with Scott McTominay filling his shoes. The Scot is expected to be joined by new signing Fred and Andreas Pereira. Pereira made his debut for Man united four years ago but this be his first start in competitive action for the club. The Brazilian youngster spend last season on loan at Valencia where he impressed everyone.
First chapter of the @premierleague ! Come on @ManUtd ! pic.twitter.com/gf9dmz7gLG
— Andreas Pereira (@andrinhopereira) August 10, 2018
Moving into attack and Alexis Sanchez will likely lead the line ahead of Romelu Lukaku, who represented Belgium at the World Cup.
Either side of him will no doubt be the well-rested Juan Mata and a surprise selection in Marcus Rashford who is set to start despite playing for England in Russia.
The winger is expected to get the nod over team-mate Anthony Martial due to the Frenchman being recently omitted from United’s squad against Bayern Munich.
The former Monaco man had a turbulent summer amid claims he could be sold, and left United’s pre-season tour early to be with his wife as she gave birth to his son.