Man Utd and Leicester combined XI features Pogba and Vardy but there’s no room for Shaw
MANCHESTER UNITED are desperate to get their campaign on track.
With a win, two draws and a defeat so far, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team sit eighth, three points and five places behind tomorrow’s opponents Leicester.
The Foxes – under Brendan Rodgers’ stewardship – have their own ambitions this season.
They want to break up the Premier League’s top six – if not the top four – and have started well with two wins and two draws, placing them third behind Liverpool and Manchester City.
But ahead of the clash at Old Trafford, SunSport looks at who would make it into a combined XI featuring Red Devils and Foxes.
David De Gea beats Kasper Schmeichel
A close call. Schmeichel can feel unfortunate to miss out after a strong start to the season – notably his distribution looks improved.
But De Gea gets the nod. His ten saves pip Schmeichel’s eight and he is still the man United often – too often – have to rely on.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka beats Ricardo Pereira
A £50million transfer fee brings with it a certain weight of expectation. But Wan-Bissaka, still only 21, has dealt with it well.
He looks assured and confident, especially defensively, and gets into the team ahead of Ricardo Pereira, Leicester’s player of the year last season.
Victor Lindelof beats Jonny Evans
The Swedish defender looks a better player alongside his new pal at the back and has started the season well.
Solskjaer will be hoping Lindelof and Harry Maguire is a centre-back pairing that can bring the glory days back to Old Trafford.
Harry Maguire beats Caglar Soyuncu
Well this one caused a fair bit of debate in the SunSport office. Maguire’s £85m move from Leicester to United was the saga of the summer but the Red Devils finally got their man.
He has taken to life at Old Trafford with ease and is already a “leader” among the squad. But the form of former team-mates Evans and especially his direct replacement Soyuncu – as Leicester fans joyfully sing – meaning the England defender is not being missed at the King Power.
Ben Chilwell beats Luke Shaw
There is a reason Chilwell is in the England team and Luke Shaw isn’t – the Leicester academy graduate is simply playing better football.
With a propensity to get up and down the touchline while remaining solid at the back, Chilwell looks on course to keep the ex-Saints man out of the Three Lions team – and our combined XI – for the foreseeable future.
Youri Tielemans beats Scott McTominay
Like United, Leicester splashed the cash this summer to bring in Ayoze Perez (£30m), James Justin (£6m) and Dennis Praet (£18m) but they broke their transfer record to sign United target Tielemans after impressing on loan.
He may not have quite hit the heights he managed last season just yet since the summer, but with a goal and an assist he is already off the mark.
Paul Pogba beats Wilfred Ndidi
Which Pogba will we see this season? The dominant, dynamic central midfielder or the flashy, under-performing flop? Of course United fans will be hoping it is the former.
So far he has grabbed two assists but did miss that penalty at Wolves to deny United three points but gets the nod in this attack-minded midfield. Ndidi and Hamza Choudhury would no doubt add some steel in there…
James Maddison beats Jesse Lingard
Along with Mason Mount, Maddison has been one of the best English youngsters in the Premier League so far this season and was unlikely not to get his senior Three Lions debut last week.
Like Pogba, he has two assists this term despite being moved around in Rodgers’ team – if he continues his good form this year, he will certainly be the subject of plenty of interest next summer.
Marcus Rashford beats Marc Albrighton
The English forward still can’t seem to work out whether he is better through the middle or out wide – either way, his raw talent is undoubted.
Rashford will surely lead the line with Anthony Martial out tomorrow as he looks to score for the first time since his opening-weekend double against Chelsea, a run of five games without a goal for club and country.
Jamie Vardy beats Anthony Martial
Since Rodgers was appointed Foxes boss on February 26, Vardy has netted 12 times in the Premier League – two more than any other player.
The Sheffield Wednesday fan got underway this term with a strike at Bramall Lane then followed it up with a brilliant double against Bournemouth, including a sumptuous lob. There is no doubt about it, Jamie Vardy is still one of the most dangerous strikers in the division.
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Daniel James beats Harvey Barnes
With Leicester’s wingers struggling to get off the ground this season – Demarai Gray and Ayoze Perez in particular – there have been no such troubles for James.
He signed from Swansea for £15m and flew out of the blocks, bagging three goals in his first four games, including a stunner against Southampton. It wasn’t as good as Barnes’ rocket at Sheffield United as the Leicester youngster looks to cement his starting spot.