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Erik ten Hag must stick with three players he brought into Tuesday’s win against Crystal Palace if Manchester United are to produce a similarly dominant performance in Saturday’s rematch. The Dutchman made seven changes for the 3-0 triumph at Old Trafford, and a few stars, in particular, took their chance.
Goals from Alejandro Garnacho, Casemiro and Anthony Martial secured a comfortable win to book a Carabao Cup fourth-round clash with Newcastle United in a repeat of February’s final.
Garnacho and Martial joined Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire, Sofyan Amrabat, Mason Mount and Facundo Pellistri in replacing players who started in the 1-0 victory at Burnley last weekend.
Along with those who kept their spots – Andre Onana, Diogo Dalot, Casemiro and Hannibal Mejbri – there wasn’t a single below-par performance from Ten Hag’s starters.
But three of the seven introduced players earned special plaudits from fans, and there is a demand for them to start again when Palace visit Old Trafford in the Premier League.
Varane returned to the starting lineup after making his much-welcome injury comeback off the bench at Burnley just days prior.
And the experienced Frenchman demonstrated the class and composure that United have sorely missed in his one-month absence.
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Ten Hag replaced Varane on the hour mark, suggesting that he will start again alongside Maguire, Victor Lindelof or Lisandro Martinez on Saturday.
Amrabat made his highly-anticipated debut at Turf Moor before recording his maiden start against Palace, and the Moroccan stole the show.
He started the game at left-back – with Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Sergio Reguilon unbelievably all out of contention – and thrived in a flexible role.
Amrabat often wandered into midfield and showcased a range of passing and pressing that undoubtedly contributed to the fact it was United’s first convincing performance of the season.
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Mason Mount also returned from injury, starting in midfield with Hannibal and Casemiro, and he looked like the £60million player United signed from Chelsea.
Mount only played 45 minutes, with Ten Hag carefully managing his workload, but he created three chances and provided the assist for the hosts’ second.
All three must start again on Saturday to give United the best chance of replicating their midweek performance and sealing back-to-back league wins.
It would be intriguing to see how United shape up with Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund returning to the fold.
Possible United XI: Onana; Dalot, Varane, Lindelof, Amrabat; Casemiro, Fernandes, Mount; Garnacho, Rashford, Hojlund.
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