Ahead of tonight’s meeting with Manchester United, it’s time to predict the side Eddie Howe will go with against the Ralf Rangnick’s Red Devils.
Keeping form, fitness, suspensions and last week’s 4-0 defeat to Man City, here’s the 11 we can see starting come 8pm tonight…
(4-3-3): Dubravka – Manquillo, Schar, Lascelles, Ritchie – Shelvey, Willock Joelinton – Saint-Maximin, Wilson, Fraser.
OUT: Clark, Murphy, Hayden and Almiron. IN: Schar, Manquillo, Shelvey and Saint-Maximin?
With Manquillo expected to be OK, we reckon he’ll replace Murphy; who isn’t suited to playing at right-back in a four-man defence.
Schar will surely return after a rest, seeming set to replace Ciaran Clark after yet another horror show from him last week. Ritchie at left-back is another worry, but with Lewis injured it’s hard to know who else could come in.
Hayden is banned, so Shelvey and Willock seem likely to start in the middle of the park, only time time they could be helped out by Joelinton; who looked like a man mountain when dropping back into midfield against Manchester City.
Out wide, Saint-Maximin should return after a rest, coming in for Almiron – who flattered to deceive too often last time out – while Ryan Fraser deserves to keep his place after promising displays in each of our last two outings.
He’s one yellow card away from a suspension, however Callum Wilson looks set to lead the line once again. He’s rarely played with ASM and Fraser either side of him, so I’m really hoping Howe goes with this attack.
Predicted Man Utd XI: (4-2-2-2): De Gea – Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Shaw – McTominay, Fred – Fernandez, Sancho – Rashford, Ronaldo.
