Manchester United commence their 2019 FA Cup campaign when they host Reading in the third round of the competition at Old Trafford tomorrow. The tie presents a great opportunity for interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to rotate his squad, and get some quality minutes for the young prospects.
Solskjaer has said that wants to give the youth system players some chances and with United having crashed out of the EFL Cup, this tournament is the only chance to do so. So while some of the young kids could come off the bench, the first team might be comprised off some bench-warmers, and one convalescing star- Alexis Sanchez.
The 30-year-old Chilean made a substitute appearance in the win over Newcastle United, and now seems in line to make his first start since November. Solskjaer has vowed to help get Sanchez right again, much like Paul Pogba is now coming correct under the leadership of the 45-year-old Norwegian.
A match like this also provides a great opportunity for veterans like Fred, Marouane Fellaini, Diogo Dalot and Sergio Romero to get a game. United own this series, as they have never lost a single one of the 16 previous meetings (12 wins, four draws).
The Bank MUFC Starting XI Prediction vs Reading (4-3-3)
Attack: Alexis Sanchez, Romelu Lukaku, Jesse Lingard
Midfielders: Fred, Marouane Fellaini, Juan Mata
Defenders: Ashley Young, Eric Bailly, Phil Jones, Diogo Dalot
Goalkeeper: Sergio Romero
Reading at United FYIs
Kick-off: 12:30 pm (BST), Saturday January 5, Old Trafford
Odds United win- 1/8, draw- 7/1, Reading win- 14/1
Prediction: United 3, Reading 1
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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