Same formation?
If Manchester United are to have an identity again then it would be logical of Ralf Rangnick to retain the 4-2-2-2 formation. City, Chelsea, and Liverpool almost always use the same system each week and whenever any changes to the line-up are enforced the 'reserves' know their cues.
United have not had that continuity since the restart in June 2020, a spell where Ole Gunnar Solskjaer named the same side in five successive Premier League games, and that was brief.
Henderson's chance
Ajax are keen to sign Dean Henderson next month and much would have to happen within the next month for him to willingly stay at United after having six months of his career written off by Covid-19 and Solskjaer's indecisiveness.
Henderson feels he was unfairly treated by Solskjaer (he is not alone there) but even in the congested December period there are few obvious opportunities for him to play beyond tonight. United even have an incongruous nine-day gap between their pre-Christmas game against Brighton and post-Christmas fixture with Newcastle.
David de Gea has arguably been United's player of the season so far but Rangnick has already implemented radical tactics and he could experiment in goal.
Hints at Saturday's team?
The benefit of qualifying for the knockout stage as group winners is United's regulars have a full week of training to prepare for the Norwich match on Saturday. The Crystal Palace win was United's third match in eight days and all three went down to the wire, so it would be prudent to allow players ample recovery time.
United have notable injuries to contend with while peripheral players are unavailable due to international duty (Hannibal Mejbri at the Arab Cup) or European squad omission (Phil Jones), so some regulars are likely to be involved from the start this evening.
Nines and tens
There was confusion at Denis Irwin describing Mason Greenwood as a 'number 10' last week and then, wouldn't you know it, Greenwood was one of the two 10s on the pitch at the end of the Palace win.
Greenwood's equanimity with the ball was key to Fred's goal. Diogo Dalot's forward pass was overhit and seemingly not intended for Greenwood, but he killed it, drew opponents and laid the ball off perfectly for Fred to cleverly score.
The make-up of United's front four tonight could be completely different to Sunday. Anthony Elanga has been patient after Solskjaer's indecisiveness and could benefit in the absence of more senior forwards.
Where to use Van de Beek?
Despite failing to capitalise on his start at Villarreal, it has been a progressive few weeks for Donny van de Beek. He excelled at Watford, Solskjaer was sacked, he started in Spain, emerged in all three games since, and there is room for him in Rangnick's 4-2-2-2. Van de Beek could be used as one of the two sixes in front of the back four or one of the two 10s.
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