08 April 2023 , 06:00
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Manchester United will be aiming to reclaim third place in the Premier League this weekend as they continue their fight for a Champions League place.
Erik ten Hag ’s men welcome relegation strugglers Everton to Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon having edged past Brentford last time out. Avoiding defeat would see them move above Newcastle in the race for a top four position.
The Red Devils would no doubt prefer maximum points as they attempt to build a gap between themselves and fifth-placed Spurs. Ahead of the clash with Everton, Ten Hag has a number of decisions to make over his team selection.
Mirror Sport attempts to predict how many changes the Dutchman could make following the slender victory over Brentford last time out:
Despite making a near-costly error against the Bees as his clearance cannoned off of Ivan Toney, Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea still performed very well. Ten Hag was full of praise for his performance and there is no reason why he should drop out of the side to face Everton.
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The first alteration should potentially come in defence. Luke Shaw was substituted during the first-half against Brentford in midweek. Whilst the England left-back appears to have avoided a serious issue, Ten Hag has confirmed that he will be sidelined this weekend.
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Elsewhere in defence, Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane should remain given the promising partnership that they have struck up this season. That leaves the only question at right-back considering he has started in each of the last two games.
Whilst Ten Hag has a dilemma in defence, the same could certainly be said in midfield. The Dutchman has confirmed that Christian Eriksen will feature in the squad after recovering from an ankle injury.
Considering that he has been out of action since January, it seems unlikely that he will be handed a starting berth straight away. That would see Scott McTominay continue at the heart of midfield alongside loanee Marcel Sabitzer in the continued absence of Casemiro
That would leave Portuguese playmaker Bruno Fernandes to claim a more attacking role in a midfield three. Speaking of the Red Devils’ attack, Ten Hag also has further questions regarding who will leave the line.
A clear candidate is Marcus Rashford who scored his 28th goal of the season against Brentford and is a certainty to start once more. That then begs the question of who will be either side of him.
Antony and Jadon Sancho were deployed on the flanks against the Bees but Ten Hag might desire a little more physicality against Everton. That could potentially see Wout Weghorst drafted back in after he was benched last time. Sancho could be stationed on the right side to round off the team that boasts three changes.
Predicted Man Utd XI: De Gea; Malacia, Martinez, Varane, Dalot; McTominay, Sabitzer, Fernandes; Sancho, Rashford, Weghorst.