Harry Maguire Back in Manchester United Starting Xi to Face Brentford

Harry Maguire Back in Manchester United Starting Xi to Face Brentford

Rene Otinga
updated at October 7, 2023 at 5:24 PM
In this article:
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  • Manchester United come up against Brentford in a Premier League cracker
  • Erik Ten Hag named a slightly changed squad with Harry Maguire making his way back to the starting XI
  • The 30-year-old was also recently selected by Gareth Southgate in the latest England squad

Harry Maguire is back in the Manchester United starting XI as the Red Devils take on Brentford on Saturday, October 7.

It almost looks like Erik ten Hag has been forced into the decision as Maguire is one of the more experienced centre backs amid an injury crisis at the club.

Lisandro Martinez is set to be sidelined for an extended period, while Varane is also struggling with injury.

Harry Maguire
Erik ten Hag interacts with Harry Maguire of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Aston Villa at Old Trafford on April 30, 2023 in Manchester, England. Photo by Ash Donelon
Source: Getty Images

The former Leicester City man makes his first Man United Premier League start this season, having only featured for 90 minutes in the team’s first seven matches in the league.

Here is the comprehensive starting XI, as cited on Manchester United’s official handle on X:

Onana; Dalot, Maguire, Evans, Lindelof; Amrabat, Casemiro, Mount; Fernandes, Hojlund, Rashford.

With Dalot playing at left back, it gave summer loan signing Sofyan Amrabat the freedom to sink in midfield for his team against Brentford.

The Moroccan started alongside Casemiro and Mason Mount, although Ten Hag decided to take off the Brazilian at half time after a calamitous first half.

How the game went

As far as the game went, United fell behind in the first half after a mistake from Casemiro in midfield allowed Brentford to go forward.

Amid confusion in defence, the ball fell to Mathias Jensen, whose shot squirmed under Andre Onana for his fourth goal in six games for his side.

Questions were particularly raised about Onana, as the former Inter man once again conceded what would typically be a routine save for a goalkeeper.

In the second half, United pushed for an equalizer, and it came late on through substitute Scot McTominay, who fired in a low shot after poor clearing from Brentford.

It almost looked like the game would meander to a draw, but there was more time for drama as the Scotland international headed in a winner with virtually the game's last play, as cited on BBC.

Onana runs full length of pitch to thank McTominay

Elsewhere, Sports Brief reported on how Andre Onana ran the full length of the pitch just to thank Scot McTominay for scoring a late winner for Manchester United.

McTominay was brought on in the 87th minute against The Bees at Old Trafford with United trailing 1-0, and he scored two injury-time goals to ensure his side got all three points.

Onana was thoroughly relieved as he was on the spot for an earlier error which helped Brentford take the lead.

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Rene Otinga
Rene Otinga is a sports journalist with over eight years of working experience in digital media. Rene's experience includes working as a Copywriter at X News Kenya and TUKO.co.ke.