'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Manchester United are set to play their first league game of the season at Old Trafford against Chelsea on Sunday. This game will show Ole Gunnar Solskjaer if his charges are ready to compete for the top prize, or if pre-season was just a fluke.
The team won all their pre-season games and played quite well, but that was just in preparation for the season. This game against Chelsea will have a competitive edge and the fans will be excited to see what their teams bring to the table.
There will be speed from United of course, as we’ve seen throughout pre-season, and counters will be frequent. The defence now picks itself when everyone is fit, and the forwards look hungry to take the field.
The XI that will start at Old Trafford will give the fans a clear picture of how the team is going to line up for the entire season. Here’s a look at United's ideal lineup at Old Trafford against Chelsea on Sunday.
Goalkeeper
David de Gea has been United’s standout performer for years, but towards the end of last season his form dipped. Still, De Gea remains United’s safest pair of hands.
He will most likely start against Chelsea, and if the pre-season showings are anything to go by he may have just rediscovered his form of old. Also, with Ashley Young not expected to start this game, De Gea may be the one to wear the armband in his absence.
The Spaniard's footwork, which has been described as his weakness at times, seems to have improved now. De Gea will no doubt be the architect of most United build-ups from the back.
Defense
For the first time since the Ferdinand and Vidic partnership was broken does the team have a settled backline. The acquisition of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire has brought some sense of relief to the pain points of this United side.
The right-back position will be taken by Wan-Bissaka, who has impressed throughout pre-season. If he can continue with the same form, he would surely be a worry for Chelsea. His defensive game is firing on all cylinders, and not many will get past him.
Luke Shaw will line up as the left-back. After picking up the Player of the Season award, he’ll look to hit the ground running early.
The two centre back positions will be occupied by Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire. Those two are expected to form a partnership that will lead United to a position higher than sixth.
Central midfield
For most of the transfer window, Paul Pogba was expected to leave. That, however, hasn’t happened, and he looks set to stay on at United at least for this season.
Pogba is the first choice midfielder in this side; he has the natural ability, technique and presence that the others don’t. The big question now is who is going to partner him.
Based on pre-season form, Scott McTominay is the one that will likely get the role. He has so far been quick across the grass, while also being agile and composed. In essence, he’s all that Nemanja Matic was in his prime.
Of course, Matic and Fred remain in contention to start alongside Pogba as well.
With Chelsea expected to play with high intensity and industry in the midfield, McTominay looks like the perfect one to partner the Frenchman. This will no doubt be a test for the youth graduate to stake a claim to the first team for the season.
Attacking midfield
The attacking midfield will be a highly contested position for United this season. The player that gets the nod here will have to act as the third midfielder as well. This, however, will depend on how the manager decides to set up the team.
The likes of Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata and Angel Gomes will fancy their prospects here. With the manager looking to play someone that can press higher up the pitch, create openings and still put in a shift defensively, Lingard will likely start here.
Lingard has shown that he’s capable of paying Solskjaer’s high pressing game and is adaptable to system changes. If the team reverts to playing with Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford up top, he can comfortably fill in on the wings.
Of most importance, however, is his ability to put in a shift when the team is on the defensive.
Forward
Manchester United have quite a conundrum with respect to their forward line this season. They sold Romelu Lukaku to Inter Milan but they haven't replaced him. The manager believes he has the right players in his squad to make up for the loss of the Belgian, but none of them has proven to be a seasoned goal-scorer like Lukaku was.
In this tie against Chelsea, it will be a test for the likes of Rashford and Martial to prove to the manager that he was right. Those two will be expected to interchange throughout the game between the left-wing and the centre-forward positions.
On the right-wing, there will be competition between Daniel James and Mason Greenwood to start. The likes of Lingard and Mata still remain in contention for this position as well, but if pre-season is anything to go by, Greenwood will get the nod to start here.
