Man United will look at a winning start of their Premier League campaign of 2025/26 when they will be confronted in Old Trafford opposite Arsenal on Sunday.
Less than 48 hours After Liverpool and Bournemouth opened the 2025/26 campaign on Friday evening on Anfield, Manchester United and Arsenal will be central in Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.
The visit of the Londoners marks the start of the first full season of Ruben Amorim as a United Head Coach, and there is a cheerful mood around the club on the way to their season opener.
A successful summer transfer window, which has seen four newcomers, and a positive campaign for the season means that United Supporters will arrive at Old Trafford on confident misery of last season.
But what could Amorim's MatchDay team look like for the season opener?
Despite missing the entire United's pre-season campaign, Andre Onana will look at a starting place between the posts. The Manchester Evening News reported last Friday that the goalkeeper saw a return to the collision with the Gunners after having sustained a hamstring injury in the first week of the pre-season training in Carrington last month.
If Onana wins his fitness battle and gets the green light to start with, it will be interesting to see the landscape of the back three that he has charged with Marschading. Leny Yoro is a guaranteed starter after starting four of the five friendly matches of United, but there is less certainty about who will join him for defense.
Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire compete to start in the middle of the back three and Ayden Heaven Riving Luke Shaw to start as the left -sided middle back.
All four players will believe that they are worth starting berths, leaving Amorim a selection ilemma to solve. There is no clear answer, but De Ligt and Shaw could get the nod after they each made three in the summer.
Amad and Patrick Dorgu are shoo-ins to take the two wing-back positions. The latter came on jumps and boundaries during the preseason, especially during the tour through the United States, while Amad started all five warm -up competitions.
Bruno Fernandes will take one of the two midfield positions. The United Captain has regularly bent its muscles in the engine room and is a guaranteed starter.
However, there is a constant debate about who the Portuguese international should work together. Manuel Ugarte, Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro are the contenders and they all have opportunities to prove their value during the preseason.
In an ideal world, United will bring in a new midfielder before the transfer window is closed, but it is unlikely that that mission will be fulfilled prior to Sunday's game. It means that Ugarte, in the midst of his defensive profile, is the most logical partner for Fernandes.
Mainoo will believe that he is worthy of a starting berth, but he is a progressive player, which means that the prospect that he is working on Fernandes in the center of midfield would run the risk of leaving United vulnerable to opposition attacks.
Cunha, who scored 17 goals for Wolves last season, should start when the left -sided No. 10. Bryan Mbeumo is the obvious choice to fill the other No. 10 place.
Despite the fact that they were only shown twice in the preseason due to a lack of match sharpness, Mbeumo impressed both Everton and Fiorentina. He has been very well connected to Amad and should have his competitive debut for United from the start.
Supported by Cunha and Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko has to get directly into the team and lead the attack. He arrived from RB Leipzig last weekend to offer the last piece in the attacking puzzle.
As far as the bank is concerned, Amorim has a competitive team at his disposal, which means that he will have options to go to. Tom Heaton had a better preseason than Altay Bayindir and should be promoted to second choice in the pecking order.
Defensive coverage can come from Diogo Dalot, Maguire and heaven. Mainoo and Casemiro can offer midfield coverings and Mason Mount can offer Cunha and Mbeumo support in the number 10 position.
Unless an exit is marked in advance, Hojlund must make the bank. Chido Obi also has to make the MatchDay team against his former club.
United Start XI: Onana; Yoro, De Ligt, Shaw; Amad, Ugarte, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mbeumo, Cunha; Sesko.
United replaces: Heaton, Dalot, Maguire, Heaven, Mainoo, Casemiro, Mount, Hojlund, OBI.
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