MX23RW : Monday, January 6 05:53:47| >> :120:23068:23068:
[monks data]
Attendance: 74,439
Manchester United logo
Premier League | Gameweek 1
Aug 10, 2018 at 8pm UK
 
Leicester logo

2-1

Pogba (3' pen.), Shaw (83')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Vardy (90')

How Manchester United could line up against Leicester City

Sports Mole looks at how Manchester United could line up for their Premier League opener against Leicester City.

Manchester United kick off the 2018-19 Premier League campaign on Friday evening with a home match against Leicester City.

The Red Devils have a number of injury and fitness concerns heading into the match, not helped by two more players picking up knocks in last weekend's friendly defeat to Bayern Munich.

Jose Mourinho will be forced to shuffle his pack for the first match of the season, but he still has a number of big-name players to choose from.

Here, Sports Mole predicts how the Portuguese will set out his side for the curtain-raising fixture.


Manchester United predicted XI vs. Leicester City

Out: Nemanja Matic, Antonio Valencia, Diogo Dalot, Marcos Rojo
Doubts: Marouane Fellaini, Jesse Lingard, Ashley Young, Paul Pogba, Phil Jones, Marcos Rashford, Eric Bailly, Ander Herrera, Romelu Lukaku

Rashford cut short his post-World Cup holiday in order to get some minutes under his belt in United's final pre-season friendly against Bayern, which ended in a 1-0 loss at the Allianz Arena, and could be handed a start through the middle in the possible absence of Romelu Lukaku.

Mourinho confirmed during the club's tour of the United States that Matic had undergone minor surgery that will rule him out for at least the opening match, while Valencia, summer signing Dalot and Everton-linked Rojo are all carrying injuries.

Matteo Darmian will be one of the biggest winners of the injury crisis, with a right-back berth there for the taking, while Luke Shaw is favourite to start on the left after being given an extended run in the side.

The good news for Mourinho is that star man David de Gea was only at the World Cup for a fortnight and is therefore ready for the new season, and Brazil international Fred will also be raring to go.

Elsewhere, Bailly picked up a minor injury against Bayern but should be okay to start in the heart of defence, and Herrera will also be required in a depleted central midfield, where Andreas Pereira may finally be given a chance to shine.

ID:332726: cacheID:332726:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4958:
Written by
Daniel Lewis
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho patrols the touchline during the 2018 FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley
Read Next:
Mourinho: 'WC players will miss Utd opener'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool19144147192846
2Arsenal20117239182140
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1911442619737
4Chelsea20106439241536
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle20105534221235
6Manchester CityMan City2010463627934
7Bournemouth209653023733
8Aston Villa209563032-232
9Fulham207943027330
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2061043029128
11Brentford208393835327
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs20731042301224
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd206592328-523
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham206592439-1523
15Crystal Palace204972128-721
16Everton193881525-1017
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1944113142-1116
18Ipswich TownIpswich2037102035-1516
19Leicester CityLeicester2035122344-2114
20Southampton2013161244-326


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!