Man United start their Premier League season against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford today and here are five things to look out for.
De Gea or Henderson?
Dean Henderson was arguably the best goalkeeper in the Premier League last season and earned his first senior start for United in the absence of David de Gea last week. De Gea’s form over the last 18 months has been the worst of his career and his selections ahead of Sergio Romero in the FA Cup and Europa League semi-finals were not vindicated.
De Gea signed a four-year contract last year and Henderson agreed a five-year contract last month. One represents the future and De Gea is maybe the past, in some United fans’ eyes. But Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been unwaveringly loyal to the Spaniard and the gut instinct is De Gea will start United’s league opener for the ninth season out of the last 10.
Is Pogba well enough?
United can be cagey even with training pictures but Paul Pogba was captured beaming during an outdoor session this week and appeared to be doing ball-work. Solskjaer was unsure whether Pogba would be well enough to play this weekend; a sure sign Pogba will start against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.
“Back to work,” Pogba declared on Twitter in midweek. That has raised the chances of him lining up with Donny van de Beek and Bruno Fernandes for the first time.
Or will Solskjaer choose a different midfield?
Palace, with their reticent and resolute approach, are a team that demand a more attack-minded midfield and Nemanja Matic and Fred only returned to training this week. Scott McTominay impressed in his 45 minutes at Aston Villa last week and has attacking merits but Palace at home in a sparse stadium is a welcome warm-up act for the Pogba-Fernandes-Van de Beek triumvirate.
- Van de Beek explains what Man Utd need to win trophies & More Sports Highlights
- Man Utd have ‘run out of money’ after signing Donny van de Beek
- Man Utd face transfer nightmare as another issue arises over Jadon Sancho deal
- Chelsea boss Lampard backed to make bold choice vs Liverpool
McTominay came off at the interval at Villa Park but has trained this week.
The new first XI?
Marcus Rashford has recovered from injury, Fernandes, De Gea, Victor Lindelof and Anthony Martial are rested after international duty and Mason Greenwood resumed training this week after his Icelandic transgression. Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire started against Villa and Aaron Wan-Bissaka reported for training on Monday.
United Twitter is all pitchforks and torches because the happiness of angry keyboard warriors depends on a football club signing a player yet Solskjaer could field a genuinely impressive XI today. Van de Beek for Matic might be the only change from the five-game ‘first XI’ used after last season’s restart.
