Gary Neville believes Michael Carrick will want to make a significant change to his Manchester United starting XI for Sunday’s heavyweight Premier League clash against Liverpool.
The Red Devils moved a significant step closer to securing Champions League qualification last night following a narrow 2-1 win over Brentford.
First-half goals from Casemiro and Benjamin Sesko put clear daylight between United and the visitors, who missed a glut of chances to give the scoreline a more accurate reflection of proceedings.
After the break Carrick changed formation and reverted to the infamous 3-5-2 system that Ruben Amorim was so wedded to during his ill-fated spell in charge.
In fairness to Carrick, United looked far more secure after the interval with Noussair Mazraoui having replaced Amad Diallo and it wasn’t until Mathias Jensen 87th minute strike that the home side looked like they were in danger of dropping points.
The form of the Ivory Coast winger has become something of a concern for United given he is without a Premier League goal since December and Neville believes he will make way this weekend, should Matheus Cunha return to full fitness.
Neville told Sky Sports: ‘If Cunha is fit, I think he will go with Cunha and Mbeumo, Bruno Fernadnes and Sesko. I think he’ll go with that four and I’m not sure Amad will play.
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‘But I think you’ll see a more cautious, tighter more compact, more defensively focused Manchester United than you saw in that first half tonight.
‘I don’t think he’ll start with five at the back, I think that would be wrong. He won’t do that, let’s be absolutely clear.
‘But he will get them a lot more switched on defensively. He will be a lot more compact and tight and it will be a case of not making mistakes. Let’s go and make Liverpool nervous.
;I think Liverpool, likewise, will not want to be opened up. I think it could be more of a game of chess on Sunday.
‘Not quite as much as it was in the second half against Brentford but I think it could be more of a struggle of a game where both managers are going to be quite cautious.
‘Not in the teams they pick but in the way they instruct their players to go out there and be compact and defensively solid.’
Cunha, United’s matchwinner in their previous outing against Chelsea, missed the win over Brenford with a hip injury.
Asked to explain his absence prior to the game, Carrick said: ‘He had a bit of a sore hip flexor after the game against Chelsea,’ Carrick told Sky Sports.
‘He was looking quite promising during the week. We thought he’d be okay but he didn’t quite progress quick enough. It’s nothing too serious but unfortunately he misses out tonight.’
