Chris Smalling has withdrawn from the Manchester United start lineup just minutes before we’re due to kickoff at Liverpool this afternoon.
Eric Bailly has replaced the England international in central defence. Smalling failed to make it through the warm up due to a foot injury.
The Ivorian will partner the returning Victor Lindelof and Matteo Darmian in the middle of a back five, with Diogo Dalot and Ashley Young playing wingback roles. Lindelof has not featured since our 0-0 draw at home to Crystal Palace on 24 November due to injury. Bailly had recently come back into first team action following injury problems of his own.
Paul Pogba is another notable absentee – the French midfielder is only named among the substitutes for a third consecutive Premier League game. Nemanja Matic and Ander Herrera start as our central midfield partnership this afternoon, with Jesse Lingard in a number 10 role behind Marcus Rashford and Romelu Lukaku.
Phil Jones has been promoted to the substitutes bench.
A late change to the #MUFC starting XI: @EricBailly24 comes in for @ChrisSmalling, who sustained an injury during the warm-up. @PhilJones4 is on the bench. #LIVMUN pic.twitter.com/O4Go8jRlkb
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 16, 2018
