The match starts at 11.05am. UK time, as the first of United’s three games will be played in Australia. Photo by MARTIN KEEP/AFP via Getty Images
How United could line up
United selected 22 players for the game against Liverpool, making 11 changes, 10 at half-time and David de Gea midway through the second half. The pre-season is all about helping players get fit and so there will be an experimental line-up against Melbourne Victory with Erik ten Hag doling out the minutes.
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That means we’re likely to see a handful of players we didn’t see in the first game, either through injury or simply not being selected. The rotation in goal could see Nathan Bishop and/or Matej Kovar get rare chances, possibly playing 45 minutes each, before David de Gea returns for the next few games. READ MORE: Manchester United transfers confirmed, ins, outs, loans, releases for 2022/23 Harry Maguire is also set to return, with Erik ten Haag telling the press conference that the captain is fit to play at least half a game. He could partner Raphael Varane before United shuffle things around at full-back, with new signing Tyrell Malacia making his first start and youngster Ethan Laird getting a long-awaited pre-season opportunity on the right. Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images James Garner is fit again and likely to start. He could team up with Fred, with up-and-coming midfielder Hannibal also getting a chance. United also have two strikers available who did not feature against Liverpool. These are Alejandro Garnazzo and Tahith Chong. Both players could start on either side of Anthony Martial in attack, with United keen to give minutes to as many players as possible ahead of games against Crystal Palace and Aston Villa. This would be a wildly experimental line-up, and that’s the point, with United facing the weakest side of all six pre-season opponents. Let’s see what some of the fringe players are capable of. Dan still wonders what would have happened if United had kept Juan Veron… Lisandro Martinez fee and personal terms agreed
