Manchester United supporters responded in a variety of different ways when asked who they wanted to start against Liverpool on Sunday.
Jose Mourinho has confirmed six players who will start at Anfield: Ashley Young, David de Gea, Ander Herrera, Marcus Rashford and Nemanja Matic.
At the same time, Diogo Dalot, Matteo Darmian, Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo, Victor Lindelof, Chris Smalling, Scott McTominay, Anthony Martial and Alexis Sanchez all have injuries.
And so, assuming none of those nine will return, I put together a preferred starting XI – dropping Romelu Lukaku for more efficiency up top, bringing Matic into a back three to give the team a stronger defensive shape, and playing Lingard just behind Rashford in similar fashion to Arsenal – and asked supporters what they thought.
https://twitter.com/PeoplesPerson_/status/1073591033836003329
Many came back with starting XIs and formations of their own, although a large number have wishfully included injury doubts like Dalot and Rojo.
A 4 3 1 2
Martial Rashford
Mata
Pogba ? Herrera
Young Bailly Smalling Dalot
De Gea— Robin United (@RobinPassat) December 14, 2018
Dave; Dalot Bailly Rojo Young; Fellaini Herrera Pogba Mata Lingard; Rashford
— Rizky (@rzkypra) December 14, 2018
———-Rashford
—Lingard———Mata
Pogba—–Matic—-Herrera— Muamer (@SargonEpic) December 14, 2018
3-5-2 de gea dalot bailly smalling rojo young matic pogba herrera lingard rashford
— Nandan (@matt_damels) December 14, 2018
De Gea
Bailly Rojo Jones
Dalot Young
Herrera Matic
Pereira/Mata
Rashford— س (@starinadawall) December 14, 2018
De Gea; Valencia, Jones, Bailly, Darmian, Young; Herrera, Fellaini; Pogba, Lingard, Rashford
— Dan Roberts (@danroberts11) December 14, 2018
Others – the majority, to be honest – did not give a suggestion as such, opting instead to express a general sense of disgust towards a team which looks nowhere near good enough. I can understand why so many cannot stomach the idea of Phil Jones and Eric Bailly playing again. They are, however, the only definitely fit central defenders United have at this moment in time.
https://twitter.com/sepakB0LA_/status/1073607076167839746
Sees matic at centre half
Stops reading
— Jonny Tumelty (@jonny_tumelty) December 14, 2018
That is absolutely disgusting 😭😭
— Sean Maciver (@seaniebobs11) December 14, 2018
https://twitter.com/mod_2391/status/1073601205325258755
With their inverted wingers and offensive full backs we will be murdered with this Formation
— maliq (@enigmaliq) December 14, 2018
Would rather die before seeing those WBs and Matic at CB.
— Charlie (@Charlanardo) December 14, 2018