Manchester United take on Bournemouth today hoping to go just two points off the top four with a win. Jose Mourinho seemed pretty happy with a number of his players after last weeks victory over Everton, but will he change the system today.
United have turned their form against Bournemouth around. After famously losing their first ever league meeting in 2015, the Red Devils have gone unbeaten in five winning four of them.
Against Everton last week, there were a number of star performers who stood out. None more so than Anthony Martial and Victor Lindelof, who both seem to be finding some real form and dare I say consistency at last.
Interestingly, Marcus Rashford got his first start as the sole striker for a whole, replacing the out of form Romelu Lukaku. Rashford had the fewest touches of a Manchester United starter but his runs in behind and sharper movement gave United a bigger threat going forward.
Assuming the back four will pretty much stay the same, Mourinho has a few more attacking players at his disposal that have returned fully from injury. Alexis Sanchez and Jesse Lingard are expected to be involved in the match.
If both start that would suggest, one of Juan Mata, Rashford and Martial are due to miss out. Unless, of course, Mourinho goes for a two-man midfield as instead of a three-man midfield with Brazilian Fred the likely candidate to drop to the bench.
It seems Romelu Lukaku also hasn’t travelled with the squad, therefore United will be setting up with a number nine who likes to stretch defences, in Rashford, Martial or Sanchez, rather than the target man that is Lukaku.
But what XI would our RDA expert writers pick.
Ali Akbar
David De Gea
Ashley Young, Chris Smalling, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw
Fred, Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba
Juan Mata, Romelu Lukaku, Anthony Martial
Lindelof has been great for the last few games, and although Smalling conceded a penalty against Everton, both deserve to carry on as our starting centre back pairing.
Our midfield three controlled the game well against Everton, so Mourinho should avoid choping and changing this week.
Although Lukaku didn’t start last week, he should be given an opportunity to end his goal drought against Bournemouth.
Ollie Slack
David De Gea
Ashley Young, Chris Smalling, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw
Fred, Ander Herrera, Paul Pogba
Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial
The back five have formed a good understanding over the past few weeks and have all been in good form. It’s in midfield where the opposition carving us open and creating chances, therefore I’d give Nemanja Matic a rest for the more energetic Ander Herrera who can cover the pitch and intercept passes a lot quicker. Herrera had a good game at Dean Court last season.
Would also keep the front three the same as United looked as good going forward last week as they have since the match against Burnley back in early September.
There was a temptation to bring Jesse Lingard in for Juan Mata for his pace on the break, however, these are the sort of games where if you didn’t start the Spaniard you’d be screaming for him at halftime. Rashford gets another crack at centre-forward ahead of Sanchez.