Three days after Stamford Bridge, Manchester United play the biggest European game of their season so far — Roma at Old Trafford on Tuesday 3 November. With three points from three Champions League games, Michael Carrick cannot afford to treat this as a rotation night. Here is how we expect United to line up; the full Roma preview has the opposition lowdown.
The Case for Full Strength
United sit in the lower half of the league-phase table and another defeat would leave qualification in serious trouble. Roma are unbeaten in Serie A and dangerous away from home, so this is no game for a second string. Expect Carrick to go as strong as the Chelsea game allows.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1)
GK: Lammens
DEF: Yoro, Maguire, Martinez
MID: Dalot, Baleba, Santos, Amad
ATT: Fernandes, Tielemans
ST: Mbeumo
Leny Yoro is available again in Europe after serving his suspension earlier in the league phase, which gives the back three its best balance. The midfield picks itself if everyone came through Chelsea unscathed.
The Rotation Questions
Two positions are genuinely open. If Kobbie Mainoo is finally fit — the latest on him and everyone else is on our Man Utd injury news page — his ball-carrying could be valuable against a Roma side that presses in waves, even if only from the bench. And if Benjamin Sesko is cleared, Carrick must decide whether Mbeumo’s movement or Sesko’s presence leads the line on a night when United may not dominate the ball.
The Bench Matters
Roma under Gasperini finish games strongly. Carrick’s substitutes changed the Como and Sabah games in this competition, and with five changes available, the bench — likely including Mainoo and a fresh wide option — may decide this one late.
