Indonesia
Nigeria
South Africa

Amorim set for first Man United game - predicted line-up and how to follow

talksport.com, 21 November 2024, 16:30
Ruben Amorim will take charge of his first game as Manchester United manager this weekend as his side take on Ipswich.

The Portuguese boss is going to be on the touchline aiming to start on the right foot after a successful interim spell under Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Van Nistelrooy went unbeaten in his short stint after taking over from Erik ten Hag and steadied the ship for Amorim's arrival.

Man United are still 13th in the Premier League though following their worst-ever start, leaving them desperately in need of points to rise up the table.

Their opening game under a new regime comes against Ipswich who stunned Tottenham to claim their first top-flight win before the international break.

Kieran McKenna, who used to be a Red Devils coach, also worked at Spurs and will be eyeing another scalp against his former employers.

READ MORE ON MAN UNITED

Gyokeres is outdoing Haaland in two competitions as Man United fans beg for signing

Rio Ferdinand delivered worrying Leeds warning to teammate just before Man United transfer

Ipswich vs Man United: Amorim's first line-up

Amorim has a few big decisions to make in his first game at Man United and he could be set to experiment.

The first of his decisions comes in defence as he has multiple injuries to deal with.

He is known to play a 3-4-3 formation and there are no signs of him moving away from that, as he taught the system in his first training session on Monday.

But that means he needs three centre-backs and with Harry Maguire injured and Victor Lindelof a doubt along with Lisandro Martinez, his options are limited.

Most read in Football

Roy Keane's outrageous one-liner to Jill Scott sparks Gary Neville spit-take

Robert Lewandowski leaves Rio Ferdinand heartbroken with Man United transfer revelation

Reece James suffers fresh Chelsea setback after 271 days out injured

I scored a hat-trick on full Arsenal debut despite partying until 6am at boozy FHM bash

Lindelof hobbled off for Sweden at the weekend and Martinez was sent home by Argentina with a back issue.

Matthijs de Ligt will start and it's likely Jonny Evans will have to come in too while in that third spot, Leny Yoro could finally be set to make his debut.

Yoro is yet to appear for United after suffering a serious foot injury in pre-season, but the £52million teenager has been back in training and could be ready to feature.

Luke Shaw could also be an option in a back three when he's fit and he trained there in Amorim's first training session at the club.

Behind the defence, Andre Onana will of course be in goal, as Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui prepare to take up roles further up the pitch at wing-back.

However, an unusual pick in Antony could be set to play there, with Amorim working with him at right wing-back on Monday.

It's yet to be seen whether he has trained in that position since, but it may be a move the Brazilian won't be keen on.

He provided a very frustrated reaction last season when being told to play at left-back by Ten Hag against Liverpool in the FA Cup.

But Amorim must see him as a contender to play that role along with Dalot and Mazraoui.

Kobbie Mainoo returned to training this week but hasn't played a single minute since October 6 due to injury so a midfield pairing of Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro is expected.

However, Mason Mount and Christian Eriksen will be hoping to impress Amorim in his early days to break into his best line-up eventually.

And Man United fans think Mount's career could be boosted under the new boss after he was heard being praised in training footage released earlier this week.

The former Chelsea man looked to be training in an advanced role behind the striker, which is where Bruno Fernandes will also be slotting into this system.

Fernandes is sure to start but now with Mount impressing too, Amorim has a very tough decision to make...

Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo have been competing for two starting spots for the majority of the season.

It now looks like they'll only have one to fight over from now on as their new manager won't be playing with out-and-out wingers.

Rashford has failed to regain any form this campaign while Garnacho has been criticised too, leaving Amad as potentially the best option.

He played in a more central role while on loan at Sunderland and earned rave reviews from his former Black Cats boss Tony Mowbray.

As well as that, he's also been in great form and Amorim played him in one of these roles in training on Monday afternoon.

Up front, Rasmus Hojlund will likely be the Viktor Gyokeres of this system at Man United, as Joshua Zirkzee challenges him for a start.

Rashford could also be a contender to start up front, as he led the line during a practice drill at Carrington this week.

Of course, not all international players had returned to training with Amorim, including Hojlund, but the England international may be handed a new position to try and refind some form.

Manchester United won their last away league game against Ipswich (1-0 in April 2002). Only once in their league history have they won consecutive visits to Portman Road, doing so in 1962/1963.

This will be Rúben Amorim's first match in charge of Manchester United. Aged 39 years and 302 days on the day of this game, he's the youngest to take charge of his first match for the Red Devils since Wilf McGuinness in August 1969 (31y 288d).

Ipswich vs Man United: What has been said?

Amorim has already revealed what Man United fans can expect to see in his first game in charge on Sunday.

Speaking to the club's website, he said: "I think you will see an idea. You could like it or not, I don't know, but you will see an idea.

"You will see a positioning. You will see something that we want to reach that kind of level. You will feel that.

"We have to know that it's like two trainings before the first match. This is the best league in the world.

"But if I have to say something to you, [it's that] you will see an idea. This I can guarantee."

He added: "The most important thing for me, at this moment, is to create the principles, the identity and the character that we had in the past."

Diego Forlan reveals the reasons he never became a top striker for Manchester United alongside Cristiano Ronaldo

After their first Premier League win of the season last time out away to Tottenham, Ipswich are looking to earn back-to-back wins in the competition for the first time since February 2002 (a run of four that started with a 2-1 win against Tottenham).

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes has made 137 passes which have broken the opposition's offside line in the Premier League this season, at least 15 more than any other player.

Ipswich vs Man United: How to follow

This Premier League clash will take place on Sunday, November 25.

Kick-off at Portman Road is scheduled for 4:30pm.

The game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. You can sign up to Sky Sports here.

talkSPORT will also keep you up to date with all the latest news and reaction.

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.

Read More on talkSPORT

I scored a hat-trick on full Arsenal debut despite partying until 6am at boozy FHM bash

One Fear Factor stunt made Joe Rogan so uncomfortable he told contestants not to do it

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

Meanwhile, talkSPORT.com will have live updates of the game on our dedicated live blog.

Top News

28 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tamworth supporters have hit out at their club after they took the decision to more than double their ticket prices for the FA Cup third round tie against Tottenham Hotspur. 28 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After the festive round of Premier League fixtures, relentless title favourites Liverpool were walking in a winter wonderland, coming from behind to sink Leicester City 3-1 and maintain their insurmountable lead at the top of the table. 28 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe is expecting to have Tino Livramento available for Monday's Premier League contest against Manchester United at Old Trafford. 28 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim will have to make at least two changes to his starting side for Monday's Premier League clash with Newcastle United at Old Trafford. 28 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea defender Alfie Gilchrist is allegedly attracting interest ahead of the January transfer window. 28 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United will be aiming to return to winning ways when they welcome Newcastle United to Old Trafford in the Premier League on Monday night, with the Red Devils bidding to end a difficult year on a positive note. 28 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly giving more thought to making a fresh move for Inter Milan forward Marcus Thuram. 28 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are allegedly open to signing an alternative to goalkeeper Andre Onana. 28 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are reportedly planning to make an approach for Ipswich Town forward Liam Delap during a future transfer window. 28 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Only one point separates Serie A strugglers Como and Lecce ahead of their final fixture of 2024, as they prepare to meet at Stadio Sinigaglia on Monday. 28 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The January transfer window is almost here and clubs around the UK and Europe are lining up moves as they look to take advantage of the opportunity to strengthen. 28 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Empoli vs. Genoa (Saturday, 2.00pm) Both beaten by Serie A title contenders just before Christmas, Empoli and Genoa will meet for their final fixture of 2024 on Saturday afternoon. 28 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid reportedly decide against signing Virgil van Dijk for free in the summer of 2025, and only hold interest in Trent Alexander-Arnold. 28 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Cristiano Ronaldo backs Ruben Amorim to succeed at Manchester United and insists that the club's future is bright. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite is yet to sign a new contract with the Toffees and could be the subject of a transfer battle between Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite is yet to sign a new contract with the Toffees and could be the subject of a transfer battle between Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has revealed that Raheem Sterling should return from injury quicker than expected, but Bukayo Saka has undergone surgery on his hamstring problem. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk In their 24th Championship game of the season, Norwich City are set to host Queens Park Rangers at Carrow Road on Sunday. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to keep their flawless December record intact, Birmingham City will host Blackpool at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park in League One on Sunday afternoon. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Casa Pia will be looking to secure a third consecutive victory for the first time since November 2022 when they lock horns with Braga at the Estadio Braga Municipal on Sunday. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the match as Arsenal recorded a 1-0 victory over Ipswich Town in Friday night's Premier League contest at the Emirates Stadium. 27 December 2024 talksport.com Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday are locking horns in the race for Australian teen sensation Thomas Waddingham, talkSPORT understands. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The final League Two gameweek of the calendar year sees table-topping Walsall aiming for a sixth consecutive win as they welcome Newport County to Poundland Bescot Stadium this weekend. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sporting Lisbon and Benfica bring their schedule for 2024 to an end with a thrilling top-of-the-table clash when they lock horns at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in round 16 of the Primeira Liga on Sunday. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Farense SC and Vitoria de Guimaraes bring their year to a close when they lock horns at the Estadio de Sao Luis in round 16 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga on Sunday. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Swansea City will be aiming to make it successive wins in the Championship when they continue their campaign with a home fixture against Luton Town on Sunday afternoon. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fulham are again sweating over the fitness of Emile Smith Rowe for Sunday's Premier League clash with Bournemouth. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams enjoying excellent campaigns will lock horns for an intriguing Premier League contest on Sunday afternoon, with Fulham welcoming Bournemouth to Craven Cottage. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest are set to be without the services of midfielder Ryan Yates for the trip to Everton in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Everton could be prepared to welcome back the services of winger Dwight McNeil for the Premier League battle with Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon.