Man United take on Liverpool in the Premier League on Monday and according to talkSPORT’s Manchester correspondent, Micky Gray, Harry Maguire might be benched for this one.
The defender has started both Premier League games for Man United this season but there seems to be a chance that the manager will choose a different pairing in central defence when Liverpool come to town.
“I have spoken to a couple of people, and that could be one of the big changes [against Liverpool],” Gray told the Sports Breakfast.
“I don’t think Harry Maguire is going to be in the starting XI, so it just depends if it is going to be new signing Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane. Manchester United have options.
“I don’t think it is down to the personnel [for Manchester United’s current form], I just think whatever XI Erik ten Hag picks, they have got to match Liverpool for effort.
“If they don’t, it could be another big score.”
According to Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo should be dropped but not Harry Maguire since the latter lifts his team up… pic.twitter.com/JHFzJeSbjJ
— TCR. (@TeamCRonaldo) August 21, 2022
Will Harry Maguire be benched against Liverpool?
There have been reports coming out of the Man United training grounds that Raphael Varane has been training alongside Lisandro Martinez instead of Harry Maguire in the team’s shape sessions which suggests that the club captain will be moving to the bench.
Lisandro Martinez was the weak link against Brentford but Erik ten Hag is very much keeping faith in him right now. Toney bullied the summer signing but with no Darwin Nunez, there won’t be any major ariel threat to deal with on Monday night.
As far as the dropping of Harry Maguire is concerned, we think this has to do more with Liverpool’s team selection.
Jurgen Klopp won’t have Darwin Nunez which means they will rely more on quick passing and movements. Harry Maguire is not blessed with pace so it makes sense why Ten Hag wants to use Raphael Varane ahead of him on Monday.
Also, it’s not much of a risk dropping the England international because he’s not been in great form and even if the pairing of Varane and Martinez doesn’t work out, the fans won’t be blaming Ten Hag too much for this particular selection.
