Manchester United play Burnley this evening, barely four days after facing Bayern Munich in the Champions League group stage.
It is unclear whether Erik ten Hag will make changes to his starting lineup at Turf Moor after considering the consequences of midweek travel from Germany and the match itself at the Allianz Arena, where United were defeated 4-3.
The Athletic journalist Carl Anka offered us his prediction for Ten Hag’s team selection at Turf Moor ahead of tonight’s match against last season’s EFL Championship champions and highlighted the excellent news that Sofyan Amrabat, Mason Mount, and Raphael Varane are all back in training with the Reds.
Read Anka’s pre-match views below before deciding whether you agree or disagree and attempting to anticipate the starting lineup in our United Predictions game.
“I think it’s a huge boost,” Anka remarked after Erik confirmed the absentees’ return to training in his pre-match press conference on Friday.
“Erik ten Hag stated before the Bayern Munich game that he had yet to play his best XI, if ever. That’s intriguing because it seems like the team Erik wants to play for and the one he’s had to play for recently haven’t completely aligned.
“When you consider Erik’s signings this summer, he hasn’t had the opportunity to use all of them in the same game.” So, the closer everyone comes to full fitness, the better Manchester United should play.”
While United lost in Munich on Wednesday, Anka says he was impressed by on-loan full-back Sergio Reguilon.
He added that he would not be surprised if Facundo Pellitri makes his second consecutive start for the Reds when they face Vincent Kompany’s side this season. evening.
“It’s interesting, Pellistri, because since he arrived at the club he has played more minutes with Uruguay than with Manchester United,” he added.
“Ten Hag has played his cards very openly about what he thinks of the player, but I think Pellistri performed quite well against Bayern Munich.
If Ten Hag wanted to select him again, in the same starting lineup, I don’t think they would be there too many questions or concerns.”I’m also interested in seeing more of Reguilon.
At the moment he is only on loan for a short period, but the fans seem impressed by his energy.”
Disappointing performances may force managers to make changes, but Carl believes Erik will stick with his Munich selection, as he has in the past, and allow them to bounce back with a victory this weekend.
“I think he’ll go with the same lineup again,” he added.
“That’s something Ten Hag has done very frequently following a loss last season, when he makes a statement saying the same team will play again.
“So, yeah, I wouldn’t be surprised if he names the same starting lineup that faced Bayern Munich.”
