Ole Gunnar Solskjaer takes on Watford in his game as permanent coach of Manchester United at Old Trafford this afternoon. But who will he pick in his starting XI to beat The Hornets?
Manchester United need to win games of football. It’s been a great week where fans around the world have celebrated the appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but now his side needs to get down to business.
The Red Devils are currently two points off the top four with fixtures against Manchester City and Chelsea to come. They cannot afford to slip up against Watford today.
Ollie Slack
United need to win almost every game left to ensure they get top four and can’t take any liberties against a very talented Watford side. At this stage of the season, you have to play your strongest XI every game.
Victor Lindelof may not be back in time for the match as his wife gave birth recently, but assuming he does, he gets in my team alongside the inform Chris Smalling.
Paul Pogba returns from international duty in top form so should be keen to impress at Old Trafford. However, it will be interesting to see how some fans treat him given his comments about Real Madrid being a “dream” club.
If Jesse Lingard is fit, then he starts. Although, having seen on social media him going through recovery work abroad, I am not certain his match sharp. Therefore, Diogo Dalot plays with Marcus Rashford up top and Anthony Martial on the left.
David de Gea
Ashley Young, Chris Smalling, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw
Ander Herrera, Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba
Diogo Dalot, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial
Ali Akbar
The centre-back partnership of Lindelof and Smalling has been our best yet under Solskjaer, so as long as both are fit, they should start against Watford.
Matic has been poor in his last few games for United, lacking pace, urgency and stamina. In the few games he has played, MacTominay has looked brighter and more energetic than the Serbian – so he deserves to take Matic’s place in the starting XI.
Dalot is not a conventional right winger but he’s the best option we’ve got at the moment, as nobody else in the squad can provide the same width and delivery from that side.
David de Gea
Ashley Young, Chris Smalling, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw
Ander Herrera, Scott McTominay, Paul Pogba
Diogo Dalot, Romelu Lukaku, Marcus Rashford