Manchester United ‘set to start Brighton game without Ronaldo or Martinez’, according to Betfair
MANCHESTER UNITED will start their first Premier League game WITHOUT Cristiano Ronaldo, Lisandro Martinez OR Christian Eriksen in their starting XI.
That’s according to Betfair’s odds as they reckon Erik ten Hag’s first teamsheet will be missing the trio and Rafael Varane.
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United start their campaign on August 7 with a home tie against Brighton.
They travel to Brentford the following weekend before a crunch Monday Night Football clash with Liverpool visiting Old Trafford.
Martinez and Eriksen are two of the big summer recruits as the Red Devils aim to better last season’s sixth place finish.
But neither have been involved in the matchday squads as United have travelled across the globe for pre-season.
Ronaldo’s bombshell announcement that he wanted to leave has meant him training alone away from the squad while his future gets sorted.
Speculation continues over the Portuguese superstar but no deal has been struck yet to see him leave as it looks increasingly likely he will return to United.
In his absence, Anthony Martial has led the line and looked sharp in doing so, bagging in successive games against Liverpool, Melbourne Victory and Crystal Palace.
And he is now expected to lead the line against Graham Potter’s men on the opening weekend, according to the odds with Betfair.
Their expected XI sees David de Gea in goals, with a back four of Diogo Dalot, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw – leaving no place for big-money incoming Martinez or Varane.
Fred and Scott McTominay appear set to continue in the sitting midfield role with Bruno Fernandes a certainty to make up the three in midfield.
The Reds’ front three have started strongly in pre-season and Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Martial are expected to take the field from the start in the season opener.
Could Ronaldo make a dramatic return and prove his fitness in time for that Brighton game?
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