Manchester United host Ipswich Town at Old Trafford on Sunday in their second match of the new Premier League season, needing to respond after a 2-0 defeat at newly-promoted Hull City last weekend. Michael Carrick is expected to make changes to his starting line-up, with our Express Sport panel predicting six players drop out.
Defensive reshuffle predicted
Harry Maguire and Ayden Heaven struggled against Hull, according to the panel, with Lisandro Martinez and Leny Yoro tipped to come in. Martinez is described as United's best centre-half on the ball, which could help open space in midfield against an Ipswich side expected to defend deep and counter-attack.
Noussair Mazraoui is predicted to drop out for Diogo Dalot at right-back, while Luke Shaw stays at left-back and is asked to push forward and combine with Marcus Rashford.
Midfield and attack changes
In midfield, Kobbie Mainoo is tipped to replace Andrey Santos, with Youri Tielemans keeping his place. Carlos Baleba, signed this summer, is not expected to start, with one panel member earmarking the Everton away game as a better opportunity for his debut.
Up front, Benjamin Sesko is predicted to lead the attack, with Bryan Mbeumo moved wide right to stretch the Ipswich defence. Rashford is expected to start on the left, with Bruno Fernandes in the number 10 role. Matheus Cunha is tipped to drop to the bench, potentially replacing Sesko around the 60-minute mark.
Panel split on centre-back pairing
There is disagreement over who partners Martinez at centre-back, with some panel members keeping Maguire and others preferring Yoro. One member also suggests Andrey Santos could keep his place alongside Mainoo in midfield, with Tielemans dropping out.
Another panel member argues for Baleba to start immediately, citing United's midfield deficiencies against Hull, and also keeps Cunha in the side alongside Sesko and Mbeumo in attack.
The panel's most common predicted XI is: Lammens; Dalot, Yoro, Martinez, Shaw; Tielemans, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Rashford; Sesko.
