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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Samuel Luckhurst & Richard Fay & Steven Railston

How Manchester United should line up vs Crystal Palace in Premier League fixture

Manchester United play Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon.

The fixture is United's final match of an appalling Premier League season and it's also Ralf Rangnick's last game in charge as interim manager. Erik ten Hag has joined United on a three-year contract and he's set to be in attendance at Selhurst.

In regards to team news, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luke Shaw, Phil Jones and Jadon Sancho are among the United players who look set to miss the trip to London, while Alejandro Garnacho is also a doubt after missing most of first-team training this week due to illness.

ALSO READ: Four Manchester United players are doubts for Crystal Palace fixture.

Jones and Sancho withdrew from Friday's training session and that means they are unlikely to feature.

So, how should United line up? Our MEN writers have selected their personal XIs:

Samuel Luckhurst

Rangnick cannot pick a functioning side that has every player totally committed to the club, but there are reasonable compromises. Luke Shaw might be out but Alex Telles cannot be countenanced again. Alvaro Fernandez's debut has been needlessly delayed.

Nemanja Matic seems to have spent a week in London without training, Fred is essential and Hannibal Mejbri merits minutes. If Sancho is out then United lack a clear creator and Palace away is probably too intense for Juan Mata, so Marcus Rashford comes in.

Rich Fay

Ten Hag will be in attendance and United need to show him what a bright future the club could have if he embraces the youth talents at their disposal.

United are limited with their options in defence, but Fernandez is thoroughly deserving of a full debut and Youth Cup hero Bennett would be worthy of a bench role.

Matic is leaving so McTominay needs to be tried out in the defensive midfield role again. Hannibal has played in a deeper midfield role this season and it would be fascinating to see how he handles it at senior level too.

If Garnacho is fit after being unwell, he should get his full debut, though Shoretire would be a worthy alternative. Elanga deserves to cap a breakthrough season with another chance on the right. Rashford might be the only central striking option available, though McNeill or Hugill would add excitement from the bench.

Steven Railston

The final day of the season is finally here. It has been one of the worst campaigns in the club's history and United fans will be glad to see the back of it after Sunday, so the least United's players can do is provide the away support with a spirited performance.

Maguire should come back into the side after the Brighton debacle - Lindelof was awful that afternoon. That also applies to McTominay, but perhaps the presence of Ten Hag in the terraces will inspire a response from him.

Elanga, Rashford and Shoretire can make up United's all-academy attack. The latter made his United debut against Newcastle in the Premier League and he can benefit from Ronaldo being sidelined, with Rashford moving into a central role.

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