Louis van Gaal has made two changes from the Manchester United side that drew with Leicester City last weekend.
The Dutchman has picked a controversial 3 at the back in Paddy McNair, Daley Blind and Chris Smalling, and called up Marouane Fellaini for the injured Wayne Rooney.
Unconfirmed but could be 3-5-2 with Darmian and Lingard as wing-backs. Would mean Fellaini and Martial as a pair up front with Mata behind.
— Rob Dawson (@RobDawsonESPN) December 5, 2015
3-5-2 would be ridiculous today, especially if it means Jesse at wing-back. Hoping the rumours are way off
— Nick (@ManUnitedYouth) December 5, 2015
3 at the back again. Is Lvg mad https://t.co/kKhXU1YFnD
— Nduka (@Daniel_ND_) December 5, 2015
Van Gaal’s selection see Michael Carrick drop to the bench for this afternoon’s meeting with West Ham at Old Trafford.
Bastian Schweinsteiger, who scored his first goal for the club last week, is in centre midfield alongside the recalled Morgan Schneiderlin.
#mufc XI: De Gea, Darmian, McNair, Smalling, Blind, Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Mata, Fellaini, Lingard, Martial pic.twitter.com/Put2NbTijF
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 5, 2015
As the only senior striker of the United squad, Anthony Martial will lead the line. There are no young strikers – such as Marcus Rashford or Ashley Fletcher – on the bench.
Instead, van Gaal may call on the likes of Memphis Depay, Andreas Pereira or Uruguayan defender Guillermo Varela if he needs to change things up.
WEST HAM UNITED: Adrian, Tomkins, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Song, Noble (c), Kouyate, Moses, Zarate, Carroll #MNUWHU #WHUFC
— West Ham United (@WestHam) December 5, 2015
Were the Hammers to get a win, it would be the first time in their history they defeated United, Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea away from home in the same season.
