After slipping up to a goalless draw at Sunderland, Manchester United will be looking to make it four wins from five as they take on Nottingham Forest on Sunday, before traveling to Brighton on the final day. With third place all but guaranteed, United are solely playing for pride here against a Forest side that have been knocked out of the UEFA Europa League by Aston Villa and that have secured their top-flight status in the previous week. But which 11 players will Carrick select for the match? Let’s take a look:
Senne Lammens has emerged as a reliable pair of gloves and provided far more serenity than his predecessor André Onana, and he is guaranteed to start in between the sticks after a Man of the Match display at the Stadium of Light. Michael Carrick should continue with the same back four, with Noussair Mazraoui and Luke Shaw operating at the fullback positions and Lisandro Martínez partnering Harry Maguire at the back. Mason Mount filled in for the injured Casemiro at the weekend, but with the Brazilian midfielder back to training after a minor issue, there’s reason to believe that he will start at the anchor role and bid farewell to the Old Trafford faithful.
Casemiro will be accompanied by Kobbie Mainoo, who has enjoyed a renaissance under Carrick and is expected to play a pivotal role for England in the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Bruno Fernandes has delivered a world-class season that has earned praise from the likes of A.J. DeLaGarza and earned him the FWA Footballer of the Year award, and he will no doubt start as he looks to surpass Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne with the most assists in a Premier League Season. Matheus Cunha will be looking to continue his fine form on the left flank, having scored against Liverpool and Chelsea in the past month.
The biggest doubts, then, are in attack: After colliding with the advertising boards against Liverpool, Benjamin Šeško missed the trip to Sunderland with a shin injury, and Carrick will be hoping to recover him so as not to be forced to use Joshua Zirkzee up top. The other incognito is on the right side of attack. Both Bryan Mbuemo and Amad Diallo have struggled for form as of late, with Mbuemo failing to score since February 7 and failing to provide a goal contribution since February 23. Diallo, meanwhile, hasn’t scored or assisted for United since December 15.
Having made way for Mbuemo at the 75th minute against Sunderland, he’ll be seeking to hang onto his spot at Old Trafford and lead United to their first win against Forest since February 2024, as well as their first league win since August 2023. He’s been a thorn in their side, scoring a late equalizer at City Ground in November and assisting Fernandes’ goal in last season’s match-up, and we’re expecting him to get the start once again. If Šeško isn’t fit, Carrick could use Cunha up top, with Mbuemo and Diallo on the flanks.
Predicted XIs
United: Lammens; Mazraoui, Maguire, Martínez, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Diallo, Fernandes, Cunha; Šeško
Forest: Sels; Jair, Milenković, Morato; Williams, Domínguez, Anderson, Netz; Bakwa, Awoniyi, Jesus
