How Manchester United should line up against Leeds in the Premier League opener – Samuel Lockhurst

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Manchester United are looking to start the new Premier League season in style when they host fierce rivals Leeds at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side enjoyed one of their best performances in the same match last season when they beat their Yorkshire rivals with a comfortable 6-2 victory.

Saturday’s match will be the first time United have faced Leeds on the opening day of the season since 1970-71, as Leeds won 1-0 at Old Trafford with a goal from Mick Jones before finishing second in the league this season.

In terms of early team news, summer signing Jadon Sancho is available for selection but Raphael Varane will not be involved.

This is how the MEN writers think United should line up:

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Rich Fi

A lot has been done deep into the United squad but their options look rather limited in the first game of the season with several key players currently out of action.

Lindelof will likely partner with Maguire regardless of Varane’s announcement, while Wan-Bissaka and Shaw are both confident in their roles.

The safe choice in midfield would be a double defensive choice, but Matic must be given a chance to showcase his talents once again with Van de Beek best suited for a box-to-box role.

Greenwood and Martial are beginners while James is the safer option on the left, but Sancho is clearly the better option.

Samuel Lockhurst

United are in an uncomfortable position because some of the choices are by default today. The five at the back are the same as the five at the start of United’s season two years ago, with Dean Henderson and Raphael Varane absent.

Matic and Fernandes should start, and given he’s had the best part of two weeks of training, it’s worth trying Pogba with Fernandes in a three-midfield.

There would be strategic logic in having Sancho on the bench, but a 3D attack from Sancho, Greenwood and Martial is more dangerous, even if Martial could be a cat in front.

Sancho and Pogba start

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Dominic Booth

It’s probably unfair to give Sancho a start here when he didn’t have much preparation time in training, so it’s a chance for Martial to claim more regular minutes, with Marcus Rashford and Edinson Cavani unavailable. There is a good chance none of these three will remain in place when United reclaim their key striker, but Donny van de Beek deserves a chance.

No outspoken defensive midfielders are needed, so Pogba’s partnership with Fred behind Fernandes should be enough to tackle Leeds.

The back four are the same as the last two seasons, although that should change when Varane finally arrives.

Both De Gea and Lindelof can consider themselves under a certain degree of pressure as they are.

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