The Red Devils will travel to Bramall Lane for the 8PM (BST) kick-off on Saturday evening. We reveal the latest team news and our Manchester United predicted lineup vs Sheffield United.
Manchester United Predicted Lineup vs Sheffield United
Ten Hag’s Set Up in 2-1 Victory Over Brentford
Questions have been raised after errors by Andre Onana in previous weeks. Once again he was under the spotlight after a relatively weak effort by Mathias Jensen snuck past the wrong-footed Cameroonian keeper.
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Ahead of him, Jonny Evans and Harry Maguire started at centre-back while Victor Lindelof was moved to the left after an injury to Sergio Regulion left United without a senior left-back. Diogo Dalot featured at right-back.
In a double pivot, Casemiro and Sofyan Amrabat started together for the first time in the Premier League. Captain Bruno Fernandes started on the right but was used as an inside threat, with Dalot asked to overlap the Portugal star. Mason Mount started in the middle, while Marcus Rashford was deployed on the left behind striker Rasmus Hojlund.
Disjointed Style Leads to Tactical Errors
It was clear to viewers that the approach used by United against Thomas Frank’s side was, at the very least, significantly flawed. Ten Hag opted to build up play in a 4-1-4-1 shape, with his defenders spread-wise and his midfielders narrow.
The idea was to create space by encouraging the Bees, who like to engage in a high and intense press, to spread themselves out wide, leaving gaps for the defenders and Casemiro to play through to Amrabat, Fernandes, Rashford or Mount in a self-created transitional attack.
However, the approach was too obvious and Brentford responded by pressing high but away from United’s two centre-backs, who were often too deep to have options to progress the ball. Frank’s side used certain players, such as Evans or Onana, as pressing triggers to apply pressure.
As a result, United would try to rush the ball forward, often losing it, with Casemiro isolated against counterattacks – a familiar theme for the Reds this season.
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Stunning Scott McTominay Double Seals Comeback Win
Brentford’s decision to sit back for the last 25 minutes of the game left them under increasing pressure and without the means to give their players any rest. Despite a half-baked tactical style, the substitution to introduce Scott McTominay in the 87th minute led to a shock finish.
The Scottish international, who has been in red-hot form for his national side, looked to have rescued a point for his boyhood club in the 94th minute after a composed touch and finish on the bounce, past several blocking defenders.
The 26-year-old was not done there. In the seventh minute of injury time, a long free-kick was headed toward the six-yard box, where McTominay had the beating of his man and headed home in front of the Old Trafford crowd, stealing victory from had seemed like a certain defeat before injury time.
Despite the central midfielder’s heroics, Ten Hag is likely to make several changes after a disappointing performance on the whole.
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Team News
Despite a tough start to the season for United’s £60 million midfielder, fans will be disappointed by Casemiro’s absence against the Blades after sustaining a minor injury on international duty for Brazil. As a result, it seems likely that Brentford hero McTominay will take his place.
Ten Hag will, however, be able to use a senior left back, as Sergio Reguilon is expected to return to action on Saturday evening, alongside Raphael Varane, who was also suffering from an injury.
Sofyan Amrabat was a doubt after missing both of Morocco’s international matches over the domestic break but has trained with the first team ahead of the trip to Sheffield.
Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Tyrell Malacia and Lisandro Martinez have all been ruled out for this weekend.
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Manchester United Predicted Lineup vs Sheffield United
Onana; Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Reguilon; McTominay, Mount, Fernandes, Antony, Rashford, Hojlund
