Alex’s Predicted XI: Fulham (A)
- •
- 321 reads
- •
- 440 views
- •
- 5 min read
Manchester United travel to Fulham in Saturday’s early kick-off where they will look to extend Ole Gunner Solskjaer’s 10-match unbeaten run since becoming the caretaker manager.
The Red Devils have won all five away games under Solskjaer and will be confident in boosting their top four hopes further at Craven Cottage to get game-week 26 of the Premier League underway.
Claudio Ranieri’s side have lost five of their last six and are seven points off safety in 19th, but have won two of their previous three at the Cottage and were defeated by Tottenham Hotspur in cruel fashion late on.
It wouldn’t be overly surprising to see a rotated United team ahead of the huge Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain at Old Trafford next Tuesday.
However, Solskjaer is expected to stick with his strongest men though and therefore make just one change from the 1-0 win at Leicester City on Sunday.
Here’s my predicted XI.
GK: David de Gea
The Spaniard made some key saves at the King Power Stadium to keep just his fifth clean sheet of the season. Can he make it six at the weekend?
RB: Ashley Young
The stand-in captain looked as dangerous as ever going forward last time out and is proving vital for the system Solskjaer is wanting to play.
CB: Victor Lindelof
After a slow start to life at Old Trafford, Lindelof is now showing why Jose Mourinho paid £30m for his services and was one of the first names down here.
CB: Eric Bailly
Alongside ‘the Iceman’, it seems like it’s a carousel between Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, who signed a new long-term deal with the club this morning.
Bailly did a good job against Leicester though, and his physicality will be key against Fulham’s biggest threat, Aleksandar Mitrovic.
LB: Luke Shaw
This match could provide a good opportunity to give Diogo Dalot some game-time, but Shaw’s place in the starting line-up looks assured at the moment ahead of one of his toughest tests yet in midweek.
CDM: Nemanja Matic
Matic has looked revitalised under new management and played very well behind Herrera and Pogba in the middle of the park last time out.
CM: Ander Herrera
It looks dead-set that it’s only a matter of time before Herrera extends his current contract at United. He’s one of the more passionate players in the squad and is silently doing his job brilliantly week in, week out.
CM: Paul Pogba
Pogba looked thrilled to see Protector of the Wall Samwell Tarley, or John Bradley, at Carrington this week and he’s been protecting the United midfield admirably over the last month or so.
With 11 goals and nine assists this season, it feels like the dynamic Frenchman is finally coming good at Old Trafford and instantly fills fans with more confidence every time he starts on the field.
RW: Jesse Lingard
His movement in attack at Leicester was a joy to watch again and continues to play a big part in Rashford uprise since Solskjaer took charge.
LW: Anthony Martial
In the only change, I predict Martial will replace Alexis Sanchez, who wasn’t awful but struggled to take his chance at the King Power before being brought off after an hour.
Martial will be hungry for his first goal since signing a new long-term deal at United last week.
ST: Marcus Rashford
Rashford is quickly becoming the shining light of Solskjaer’s tenure so far and looks like the Norwegian’s perfect striking option.
Here's more you might like
Vasseur pleads Ferrari to not ‘bullshit ourselves’ over 2023 F1 form
After Celtic v Hibs at the weekend, Scottish refereeing has officially gone from calamitous to farcical
Hamilton on Red Bull RB19: ‘I’ve never seen a car so fast’
The mere mention of Celtic eclipsing 55 seems to have really hit a nerve with Ibrox supporters
Mercedes-Benz EQB review: Seven-seater SUV surprises
