English Premier League is moving towards the 13th game week and this weekend’s early kick-off sees Manchester United travelling all the way to Watford as the Red Devils will look to overcome the newcomers at Vicarage Road. Watford are having a good season after their promotion to the top tier in England. They have won four games, lost four and lost four so far and collected 16 points in the process and occupy 11th place in the table. Watford are doing an incredible job compared to the other two promoted teams.
Manchester United, meanwhile, sit fourth in the table with 24 points in 12 games. The Red Devils are performing nowhere compared to the United of Sir Alex Ferguson but as long as the results keep on coming, no one hardly cares about their style of football.
The Red Devils have to keep their form going if they want to challenge for the title and will have a test against Quique Sanchez Flores’s side who are looking to get record consecutive home wins in the league for the first time this season.
Manchester United team news:
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal gave the fans some news of panic during his pre-match press conference against Watford. He confirmed that five key players will miss the game and that reduces their team strength massively. The Dutchman confirmed that Anthony Martial, Maroune Fellaini and Anthony Valencia are all injured.
France international Anthony Martial faced a knock on his leg on international duty whereas Valencia underwent a surgery lately. Valencia will be out for several weeks as his recovery demands time. Also, captain Wayne Rooney is ill and will miss the game along with the three mentioned before.
Michael Carrick will also miss the game due to injury and it makes the team much weakened.
Manchester United predicted XI-
With so many major injuries to some of the key players, Louis van Gaal will have a tough time top name his starting XI and we would like to predict what lineup he will field in the game. He is likely to field the team in his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation.
Goalkeeper: David de Gea
Right-back: Matteo Darmian
Centre-backs: Chris Smalling and Daley Blind
Left-back: Ashley Young
Central midfielders: Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger
Right winger: Jesse Lingard
Attacking midfielder: Juan Mata
Left winger: Memphis Depay
Striker: James Wilson
Alternate XI that van Gaal can consider:
Louis van Gaal often used to play his teams in the 4-3-3 formation and with so many key misses he might consider an alternate starting XI in 4-3-3 formation. The goalkeeper and defenders will remain the same. Morgan Schneiderlin will play at the base of the midfield and Schweinsteiger and Herrera will play as two box to box midfielders. Herrera, who always delivers when called upon by the manager by hardly gets his chances, should get his chance on a regular basis. Depay, who has done nothing since arriving at Old Trafford will be dropped in this formation and Mata and Lingard will play as the two wide players. James Wilson, with Rooney and Martial, both injured and makeshift striker Fellaini out as well, will get his chance up front.