Manchester United will be looking to keep their hopes of winning silverware this season alive when they host Liverpool in the quarter-final of the FA Cup this afternoon.
United, following their derby defeat to Manchester City, got back on track last weekend, beating Everton 2-0 at Old Trafford. Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford dispatched a penalty each to secure a much-needed win for Erik ten Hag’s side.
That victory moved United to within eight points of the top four, but their focus this weekend is solely on the FA Cup and trying to reach the semi-finals. United drew 0-0 with Liverpool in December’s Premier League meeting at Anfield and won the previous meeting between the two clubs at Old Trafford in August 2022.
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Regarding the team news, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Harry Maguire and Rasmus Hojlund are all in contention to return after spells on the sidelines. However, Erik ten Hag will have to make do without Jonny Evans.
Here’s how our writers think United should line up…
Samuel Luckhurst
Evans was excellent at Anfield and would have deserved to keep his place but his injury means Maguire has to come in.
As dicey as it is to parachute a defender in who has not played in two months, this is not a day for Victor Lindelof to start at left back. Wan-Bissaka has the athleticism to keep up with Liverpool’s forwards. The front six picks itself with Hojlund available again.
George Smith
If the three players Ten Hag hopes will be able to return are fit enough to start, they should. The prospect of Wan-Bissaka coming back into the team should see him slot in at right-back, allowing Diogo Dalot to make the switch to the opposite full-back berth and offer the presence of a natural full-back in Luke Shaw’s absence at left-back.
Maguire should partner Raphael Varane in the heart of the back-four, while the midfield should remain unchanged, despite Casemiro’s questionable showing in the engine room against Everton. Kobbie Mainoo should operate alongside him with Bruno Fernandes more advanced.
In attack, Hojlund must return to lead the line if he is deemed fit enough to start. Alejandro Garnacho has made the right wing his own in recent weeks, leaving Marcus Rashford to start on the left.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
