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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
George Smith

Manchester United fans name line-up they want vs Sheriff as Cristiano Ronaldo starts

Manchester United will be looking to maintain their hopes of winning their Europa League group when they welcome Sheriff Tiraspol to Old Trafford in their penultimate group game this evening.

United, who won the reverse fixture in Moldova 2-0 last month, will qualify for the knockout stages of the competition with just a point. However, they must win the group to avoid a two-legged play-off round fixture in February and automatically qualify for the last-16 of the competition.

The Reds are currently second in the group and face current leaders Real Sociedad in their final game next week. United must win their last two matches to stand any chance of winning the group, especially when you consider Sociedad as strong favourites to beat Omonia Nicosia this evening.

READ MORE: Four ways United could line-up vs Sheriff

United, though, will head into the contest with Sheriff brimming with confidence. Casemiro's stoppage-time header against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to six matches.

Although United are expected to coast past Sheriff this evening, manager Erik ten Hag, just as he has done in the Europa League so far this season, is not expected to leave anything to chance. He wants to win the group and avoid a play-off clash with a Champions League third-placed team, meaning he is likely to name a strong starting line-up.

But how do United's fans want the Reds to line-up this evening? MEN Sport has taken a close look at what they have voted for using our interactive widget.

Unsurprisingly, the supporters have voted for David de Gea to start in goal, with the Spaniard having been an ever-present figure so far this season. He has played every minute in the Europa League this term, keeping two clean sheets in his first four appearances.

In defence, the supporters want to see two changes made to the back-four that started against Chelsea, one of which is enforced. Raphael Varane faces a few weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, meaning Victor Lindelof is poised to come in at centre-back.

Tyrell Malacia has seen a reduction in minutes in recent weeks, such has been the recent form of Luke Shaw. The supporters want to see the summer signing reinstated at left-back this evening, though.

In midfield, the supporters want to see just one alteration made. Despite scoring a last-gasp leveller at the weekend, they want to see Casemiro handed a rest, paving the way for Scott McTominay, who scored the winner in United's last Europa League outing, to come in and join forces with Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes.

Perhaphs the biggest talking point, the supporters are eager to see Cristiano Ronaldo drafted back into the starting line-up, just over a week since he refused to step off the bench in the 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford. He was axed from the squad for the trip to Chelsea, but Ten Hag, speaking at his pre-match press conference on Wednesday, confirmed that he was in contention to return.

The supporters want to see the 37-year-old spearhead United's attack, supported by Antony and Marcus Rashford either side of him. Ronaldo scored United's second goal in the previous meeting with Sheriff.

Starting line-up United's supporters want to see vs Sheriff: De Gea; Dalot, Lindelof, Martinez, Malacia; McTominay, Eriksen, Fernandes; Antony, Ronaldo, Rashford.

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