Premier League 2019-20: 3 different ways Manchester United could line up this season

After a rampant opening weekend, Old Trafford is filled with much optimism. The Red Devils dispatched a makeshift Chelsea 4-0 in a win that sent shockwaves across the country.

Much had been made of Manchester United’s transfer business, with many believing it wasn’t enough for them to mount a significant top-four bid. But Sunday's result suggests different.

In the summer window, Ed Woodward secured record deals for Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, totaling £130 million. In addition to that, Romelu Lukaku was sold for £87 million to Inter Milan.

All this business has left many wondering how Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will line up these United players in order to get a different result in comparison to last season’s woeful showing.

Here are three ways that Manchester United could line up this season.

#3 Expansive 4-1-2-1-2

De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Lindelöf, Shaw, Matic, Pogba, McTominay, Lingard, Rashford, Martial

The 4-1-2-1-2 is a formation that focuses on penetration through the middle. It encourages teams to attack centrally with the aim of overloading opposing defences.

The boss could deploy this system when facing smaller teams by deploying a low block. With this formation, United would adopt a high defensive line, looking to push the whole team higher up the pitch.

For this system, you need players with great close control to play in tight spaces. United have an abundance of such players. Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial as a front two, with Jesse Lingard behind them, would produce pace, skill and intricate play.

Either the LCM or RCM would be tasked with making third man runs into the box, while the other could sit back to dictate possession from deep.

Scott McTominay against Perth Glory

Solskjaer seems to favour Scott McTominay, so it’s possible he could the be CM making tireless runs into the box, while Paul Pogba would be tasked with controlling the game with everyone in front of him.

This system is an ultra-attacking one that would take United back to the days where they were relentless and didn't give rival teams a second to think.

Also See : Epl table, Epl fixtures, Epl results

#2 Defensive 3-5-2

De Gea, Maguire, Bailly, Lindelöf, Wan-Bissaka, Shaw, Matic, Pogba, Mata, Rashford, Martial.

Last season, Manchester United conceded a shocking 54 goals - an amount that is not befitting of a club their size. They were only able to keep 7 clean sheets throughout the season, and that’s poor especially when you have a player like David de Gea in goal.

This formation would offer the Spaniard much needed protection away from home.

A 3-5-2 would present Manchester United as a much more difficult team to penetrate away from home. Of course, a team like United shouldn’t need to play defensively against any team, but their defensive stats from last season suggest otherwise.

The 3-5-2 has the potential of reverting into a 5-3-2 off the ball and 3-4-3 in attack. Depending on the situation, this formation allows players to implement in-game management, allowing the full-backs and one of the CMs to adjust position when needed.

#1 Counter-attacking 4-3-3

De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Lindelöf, Shaw, Pereira, McTominay, Pogba, Lingard, Martial, Rashford

Through his eight months as Manchester United manager, the Norwegian has made it clear that he favours a counter-attacking style of play. Solskjaer prefers his teams to sit back in a compact manner, ready to pounce on any wayward passes or loose touches.

With the current personnel, a 4-3-3 suits Manchester United perfectly.

We saw Solskjaer use this exact formation for the first game of the season, against Chelsea. The formation offered Paul Pogba defensive support in the middle, thus allowing him to focus more on the transitional phases.

In attack, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford constantly interchanged their roles, taking it in turns to play through the middle, while Jesse Lingard floated in between the lines, looking for pockets of space behind Jorginho.

Implemented in this style, the 4-3-3 offers defensive solidity in the middle, while overloading the flanks in attack.