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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Richard Fay

How Manchester United should line up vs Roma in Europa League semi final

Manchester United will be looking for a positive result when they host Italian side AS Roma in the first-leg of their Europa League semi final on Thursday night.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's only hopes of winning a trophy this season rely on success in Europe as he looks to finally reach his first major final as manager of the club.

United haven’t lost at home in a European semi-final since April 1997 (0-1 v Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League), winning four and drawing three of their last seven such games.

In terms of early team news Marcus Rashford and Eric Bailly have both been passed fit to play, with Anthony Martial and Phil Jones the only players ruled out.

Here is how MEN writers thinks United should line up.

You can pick your United side using the selector below.

Rich Fay

While fans will be demanding victory against Liverpool this weekend there can be no denying these two matches against Roma are the biggest left of the campaign.

Solskjaer needs to go for a team which he truly trusts with the only two big calls who he picks in goal and up front. Last season 'cup keeper' Romero was ditched for the semi-final stage but De Gea deserves better than that, even though Henderson has been solid in his run so far.

The back line picks itself, as does the midfield, with Pogba still the best suited option to the left wing role. Greenwood has been excellent but should drop out for Rashford on the right and Cavani is the only No.9 option for a tie of this magnitude.

Liam Corless

Liverpool lie in wait but United can't win the Premier League and clinching silverware has to be the priority for a manager who hasn't won a meaningful gong and a team that is on a four-year run without one.

David de Gea is the new cup 'keeper but he's not a downgrade on Dean Henderson, while United's strongest back four is clear.

Solskjaer will probably go with a Fred-McTominay axis but that is a recipe for tedium so it should be one or the other, with Pogba and Fernandes making up the triumvirate.

With Anthony Martial injured and Daniel James poor against Leeds, Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford flanking Edinson Cavani is the most obvious front three.

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