(4-2-1-3) Man United starting XI against Brentford revealed as Erik Ten Hag makes heavy changes amid injury setbacks- £35m star gets a start in the attack and Bruno Fernandez is surprisingly on bench
(4-2-1-3) Man United starting XI against Brentford revealed as Erik Ten Hag makes heavy changes amid injury setbacks- £35m star gets a start in the attack and Bruno Fernandez is surprisingly on bench
Manchester United will be looking to end a five-match winless run in all competitions when they welcome Brentford to Old Trafford for a Premier League contest on Saturday afternoon.
The two teams meet for the first time since March when they played out a 1-1 draw at the Gtech Community Stadium, where Mason Mount’s 96th-minute strike was cancelled out in dramatic fashion by a 99th-minute Kristoffer Ajer equaliser
Not for the first time, Erik ten Hag has survived the axe and lives to fight another day as Man United manager, despite overseeing the club’s worst-ever start to a Premier League season, with only eight points accumulated and two wins posted in their opening seven matches.
The Red Devils have opted to remain silent on Ten Hag’s future following a seven-hour executive meeting that was held in London just over a week ago by members of the club’s leadership group, including Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Joel Glazer.
Nevertheless, the spotlight remains fixed on Ten Hag at present and the Dutchman is tasked with turning the club’s fortunes around quickly, as they currently sit 14th in the Premier League table, closer to the relegation zone than the top four, while they are already 10 points adrift of league leaders Liverpool.
Since thrashing Barnsley 7-0 in the EFL Cup in mid-September, Man United have failed to win any of their last five matches in all competitions, drawing four including a goalless stalemate at Aston Villa prior to the international break.
Man United have had little to celebrate at Old Trafford so far this term, but there is reason to be optimistic ahead of Saturday’s fixture, as they have won each of their last five home league games against Brentford by an aggregate score of 13-2 – not since 1937 have they lost at home to the Bees.
Brentford buzzing out of the blocks has become the new norm in the Premier League, with Thomas Frank’s side having scored the opening goal inside the first 80 seconds in each of their last four matches.
The Bees failed to beat Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur or West Ham United when netting the opener, but they came out on top by a thrilling 5-3 scoreline at home against basement club Wolverhampton Wanderers before the international break.
Frank’s side have picked up all 10 of their Premier League points this season on home soil and currently sit 11th in the table, two points ahead of Saturday’s opponents Man United and three points behind the top four.
Brentford have suffered defeat in each of their first three top-flight away matches this term, albeit against Liverpool, Man City and Spurs, and they head to Old Trafford this weekend seeking to avoid losing their opening four league games on the road for the first time since 1961-62 when they lost their first nine as a third-tier club.
The Bees’ record against Man United does not bode well ahead of Saturday’s clash, as they have only won one of their last 10 encounters with the Red Devils in all competitions, losing seven and conceding 24 goals, but Frank’s fearless side will nevertheless fancy their chances against a Ten Hag team struggling for form
Man United duo Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire have been ruled out for “a few weeks” with muscle problems, while Leny Yoro (foot), Luke Shaw (calf) and Tyrell Malacia (knee) all remain out as they continue to work their way back from injury.
Manuel Ugarte undertook a recovery session on Thursday after limping off with an unspecified issue on international duty with Uruguay on Tuesday, and he will be assessed ahead of kickoff along with Mason Mount (knock).
However, Man United have been boosted by the return to training of Noussair Mazraoui – who recently underwent an operation to address heart palpitations – Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo, who could all be involved this weekend.
There have been reports suggesting that Ten Hag could use Jonny Evans at left-back, with Diogo Dalot moving over to the right side of a back four, while Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez could both be recalled to start at centre-back.
As for Brentford, they are still having to cope without Rico Henry, Josh Dasilva, Igor Thiago (all knee), Aaron Hickey (thigh) and Gustavo Nunes (back) due to injury, while Saturday’s game will also come too soon for Mathias Jensen (calf).
However, Frank has revealed that a late call will be made on the availability of Yoane Wissa, who has returned to training after missing the last four games with an ankle injury, while Mikkel Damsgaard (knock) and Christian Norgaard (muscle) will also be assessed after they were all unable to represent Denmark during this month’s international break.
Frank may consider reverting to a three-at-the-back system against Man United, with Sepp van den Berg, Ethan Pinnock and Nathan Collins all starting in central defence, while Kristoffer Ajer and Keane Lewis-Potter operates as wing-backs.
Bryan Mbeumo is Brentford’s top scorer so far this season with six goals in seven Premier League games, including three in his last three, and he is set to continue in attack alongside either Wissa – if fit – Kevin Schade or Fabio Carvalho.
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Onana; Dalot, De Ligt, Martinez, Evans; Eriksen, Casemiro; Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Zirkzee
