Wayne Rooney says Erik ten Hag should not start Cristiano Ronaldo or Marcus Rashford against Liverpool FC on Monday.
The Manchester United icon believes the team needs “energy” against a Jurgen Klopp side that is yet to register a Premier League win this season. Many are forecasting Erik ten Hag to alter his tactics to contain his opponents, who will be without the suspended Darwin Nunez.
The hosts will nevertheless still need to be alert and ready to break between the Liverpool lines as they search for their first points of the campaign. Cristiano Ronaldo started his first game of the season in the 4-0 defeat to Brentford.
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He played just 45 minutes in pre-season after missing United’s pre-season tour due to family reasons. Rooney, who has called on United to grant Ronaldo his transfer exit wish, says the 37-year-old does not look match fit.
He said the attacker should not play against Liverpool, as shouldn’t Rashford, who “looks like he wants to be anywhere but on a football pitch.” Rooney added that United's inability to bring in a new number nine this summer is hampering them.
Writing in his column in the Times, he said: “I wouldn’t play Cristiano Ronaldo, and I wouldn’t play Marcus Rashford. If I was in Ten Hag’s position my main concern would be getting energy on the pitch.
“And United’s failure to recruit a No 9 means they relied on Ronaldo against Brentford, even though he hadn’t trained a lot with the team. He looked like he needs time to get match fit.”
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