Manchester United are ready to host Chelsea in their penultimate Premier League game of the 2022/23 season on Thursday, May 25. Last Word on Sports tries to put together a Manchester United Predicted Lineup as the Red Devils aim to secure UEFA Champions League qualification with a big win.
Manchester United Predicted Lineup vs Chelsea
Back in training ✔️
Raring to go 🔥#MUFC || #MUNCHE pic.twitter.com/41QlVu0OGx— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 23, 2023
How Manchester United Have Lined-Up Recently
Erik ten Hag appears to have found his ideal XI for the final stretch of the season, especially with a few injuries hampering the strength of his squad. The Dutchman has been loyal to most of his summer signings with the likes of Carabao Cup final hero Casemiro, the tricky big-money signing Antony and Christian Eriksen featuring heavily.
Bruno Fernandes has also been an ever-present figure alongside the likes of Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford – who is likely to be back for this game after missing the last few ones due to injuries. Alejandro Garnacho, who recently signed a new contract, is also being slowly phased back into the team.
Manchester United Recent Form and Tactics
The Red Devils have been in relatively topsy-turvy form in the Premier League in recent weeks, having lost two of their last five games. However, they’ve been in fine form at Old Trafford and won their last four consecutive home games in the league.
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Ten Hag has encouraged his side to employ a very attack-minded, high-press style in home games this season. He’s mostly stuck with a 4-3-3 formation, but most of their attacks are created through the wide areas – with the wingers often tasked to carry the ball forward from deeper areas – before either cutting into the central areas or allowing the wing-backs to send in crosses.
United have shown a better tendency to win the ball in key areas in home games, with the midfielders also given encouragement to make late runs into the final third to improve their goal-scoring capability – while the backline tends to be higher up as well to keep up the intensity on the opposition side and help control games better.
Manchester United Key Players
Rashford has been the go-to man for the Red Devils this season and was hailed as ‘absolutely brilliant’ by club legend Paul Scholes a few months ago for his heroics. The Englishman will aim to return with a bang, making clever off-the-ball runs to get in behind the backline and finish chances clinically to get back to scoring ways.
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Fernandes will also play a key role in determining the result. He’ll need to be clever in drawing away the attention of the Chelsea midfielders and play smart passes to send his forwards through on goal. Antony’s dribbling ability is well known, but he needs to be more accurate with his final product to really make an impact – while Garnacho will aim to maintain his reputation as a ‘trump card’ by making exciting runs into the final third and try to finish chances clinically.
Manchester United Injuries to Consider
Lisandro Martinez still remains out for the rest of the season for the Red Devils, while Donny van de Beek and January signing Marcel Sabitzer are also unlikely to feature anymore this season.
Manchester United Predicted Lineup
David de Gea, Diogo Dalot, Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw, Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, Bruno Fernandes, Antony, Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford.
