- Manchester United face Sunderland
- Fans unhappy to see Ayden Heaven dropped
- Lisandro Martinez starts instead
Manchester United fans have bemoaned Michael Carrick’s decision to drop Ayden Heaven to the bench for the encounter with Sunderland. The English defender has started each of the Reds’ last three games and impressed.
Heaven came into Carrick’s starting lineup amid Lisandro Martinez’s three-match suspension. He has been a standout performer in wins over Chelsea, Brentford and Liverpool.
Martinez’s return left many pondering whether the Argentine would continue alongside Harry Maguire in central defence. That isn’t the case today as the head coach has opted to return to his preferred centre-back partnership.
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Man Utd XI vs Sunderland
Carrick has made five changes to the team that beat Liverpool 3-2 last weekend. Senne Lammens continues in goal but Diogo Dalot drops to the bench with Noussair Mazraoui handed a start.
Martinez joins Maguire in central defence while Luke Shaw continues at left-back. Casemiro must have picked up an injury as he isn’t even in the squad.
Instead, Mason Mount joins Kobbie Mianoo and Bruno Fernandes in midfield. Out on the right is Amad Diallo, while Benjamin Sesko’s absence means Joshua Zirkzee leads the line with Matheus Cunha out on the left.
‘Incredibly Harsh’ – Man Utd Fans on Heaven Decision
Heaven hasn’t just been catching the eye with his performances but also earning support to be a starter from here on out. The fact that Martinez is back seems to have cast doubts over him continuing in the starting lineup.
That’s certainly the stance of fans who have made their feelings clear about Carrick opting to start Martinez over Heaven. One fan on X wrote:
“Casemiro injured? Also I like Martinez but very harsh to drop Heaven based on his performances.”
Another added:
“Incredibly harsh on Heaven but glad to see Zirkzee getting an opportunity.”
One supporter wrote:
“Heaven got dropped for what???”
Another responded:
“I know there’s nothing riding on it but I don’t agree with Heaven being dropped for Martinez.”
United have already sealed Champions League qualification, which allows Carrick to rotate and experiment. But dropping Heaven doesn’t do that, in fact it suggests Martinez remains his first-choice starting left-sided centre-back.
Carrick’s men head into the game sitting third, five points ahead of Liverpool. They face a Sunderland side sitting 12th amid a superb debut season back in the Premier League.
