Erik ten Hag has named his first starting XI of Manchester United’s 2024/2025 Europa League campaign, making three changes from last Saturday’s stalemate at Selhurst Park.
Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire return to the fold, while Manuel Ugarte makes just his second start since his deadline-day move from Paris Saint-Germain – the other being in last week’s Carabao Cup tie versus Barnsley.
In turn, Matthijs de Ligt drops to the bench along with Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, with the youngsters being granted some much-deserved respite after impressive beginnings to the season.
One player who’s seemingly moved up the pecking order in recent weeks is Christian Eriksen, presumably because of Casemiro’s unfortunate decline. Tonight marks a fourth successive start for the experienced Dane, whom Samuel Luckhurst claims is ‘certainly’ enjoying his ‘best run of form since his first season with MUFC’.
He is in the final year of his contract at Old Trafford, and it’s unlikely that it will be extended beyond the summer, so he’ll be hoping he can at least go out on a high to round off his Red Devils tenure this term.