Man Utd predicted line-up vs Wolves: how Erik Ten Hag’s new-look team could start season opener

It’s been a strange pre-season in Salford. Manchester United were meant to have been sold over a month ago, but continue limping on under the weighty yoke of the Glazers – and while there has been a substantial outlay on new talent, the pace of some of the dealings has been slow enough that much remains unresolved ahead of the opening match against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday night.

Still, even though pre-season form has been a bit up and down, we have got a pretty clear idea of how Erik ten Hag will line his charges up come the curtain raiser – and while there are still some players to move on, a new central defender to find, and no sign of Sofyan Amrabat, things are taking shape.

So how will United shape up as the start their attempt to seal top four for the second season running – and perhaps even try to close the yawning gap to Manchester City?

Formation

Throughout pre-season, United have consistently stuck with the same formation – a tweaked version of the 4-2-3-1 that served them well last season, with one member of the double pivot (now either Mason Mount or Christian Eriksen) taking a slightly more progressive role such that it plays more like a traditional, staggered 4-3-3 formation.

Ten Hag seems pretty set on sticking to this formation come what may, so we certainly don’t expect any surprises on that score at Old Trafford on Monday.

Goalkeeper

No real debate here – André Onana is the new number one and faces little meaningful competition for the jersey. A possible injury to Tom Heaton means that Dean Henderson will likely be on the bench even as he presses for a move to Nottingham Forest. A back-up stopper may well be on the shopping list, but Onana is about as nailed-on a starter as you could get for the foreseeable.

Defence

Based on pre-season selections, there’s one place really up for grabs in the back four as it stands – right-back. Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diego Dalot will both be competing for the role this year, but based on the selections for United’s two friendlies last weekend (an apparent first-team game against RC Lens and what seemed to be the second string against Athletic Bilbao) it appears that the Italian will get the nod for the first game. Expect rotation as the campaign wears on, however.

On the left-hand side, Luke Shaw will start the vast majority of games and will only find himself shifted from the role if injuries mean he needs to cover in the centre, or if Tyrell Malacia makes a truly overwhelming case – but the Dutchman is currently carrying an injury in any case. Shaw will start against Wolves in any case, as will Lisandro Martínez and Raphaël Varane, both fit and ready to go after injuries last season. Victor Lindelöf looks likely to be United’s only centre-back back-up at present, with Jonny Evans’ future at the club unclear after signing a short-term deal earlier in the summer.

Midfield

The more defensive role in the United midfield belongs firmly to Casemiro at this point. The Brazilian completely reinvigorated the club after joining from Real Madrid and will play practically every match – well, so long as he isn’t suspended for squeezing an opponent’s windpipe. Again.

Despite receiving some tepid and witless mockery online for failing to register any pre-season goal contributions, new man Mount seems set to start ahead of Eriksen in the heart of midfield. How his putative partnership with Bruno Fernandes – who will take the number ten role – will play out remains to be seen, but the former Chelsea star is certainly going to be playing in a more conservative role than he’s accustomed to while his Portuguese team-mate takes centre stage in linking up attack and midfield.

Attack

New signing Rasmus Højlund is nursing a back injury which means he is unlikely to make the squad on Monday – and certainly won’t be in the starting line-up. Marcus Rashford will therefore be resuming number nine duties, at least until the young Dane is fit and firing.

The England forward will have Antony to his right, with the highly-priced Brazilian hoping to contribute more than a handful of stepovers in his sophomore campaign, while youngster Alejandro Garnacho seems likely to get the nod on the left-hand side ahead of Jadon Sancho, Omari Forson and Facundo Pellistri. Argentine international Garnacho impressed in his cameo showings last season and looks set to get a sixth career league start unless Sancho can show something special in training this week. Anthony Martial is, as you might expect, injured, as is Amad Diallo, who shone on loan at Sunderland last season.

Full Predicted Line-up

Onana; Dalot, Varane, Martínez, Shaw; Casemiro, Mount, Fernandes; Antony, Garnacho, Rashford.