Man United predicted line-up vs Brentford: big Leny Yoro decision made amid Champions League spot chase
Man United are closing in on qualification for next season’s Champions League
Manchester United are closing in on securing Champions League football for 2026/27, after turning their season around with interim manager Michael Carrick following Ruben Amorim’s exit back in January. The Red Devils only need six points from their remaining five Premier League matches, after defeating a now-managerless Chelsea last weekend.
Next up for United, it’s Brentford, who head to Old Trafford on Monday evening. The visiting Bees haven’t won at the ground since 1937, and Carrick’s side will be confident of securing another three points in front of the home support. Once qualification for Europe’s top cup competition is sorted, thought will turn to what should be a hectic summer transfer window for United.
Ahead of Monday evening’s eagerly anticipated match, we’ve predicted the most likely starting XI Carrick will deploy against Keith Andrews’ Brentford:
Manchester United predicted XI vs Brentford: goalkeeper and defence
GK - Senne Lammens: The 23-year-old has worked hard to nail down the number one spot at the club since joining from Royal Antwerp last summer. The £18m stopper has moved ahead of Altay Bayindir in the pecking order, and will remain between the sticks for United’s next game.
RB - Diogo Dalot: Despite accumulating more yellow cards than assists this season, it’s been a decent campaign from the Portuguese full-back. He put in an excellent performance against Chelsea last weekend, playing a pivotal role in the side keeping a clean sheet at Stamford Bridge.
CB - Ayden Heaven: United’s central defence has been completely wiped out by a series of injuries and suspensions. There’s hope that Leny Yoro could play some part in Monday’s game, but a start looks unlikely at this stage. With Matthijs de Ligt also injured and both Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez suspended, Heaven looks set to start again.
CB - Noussair Mazraoui: Were Yoro fit, Mazraoui would be the centre-back to make way, given that he’s naturally a full-back. He did a fine job filling in against the Blues, however, and looks likely to do so again when the Bees come to town next week.
LB - Luke Shaw: He’s been pushing hard for an England recall this season, but that looks unlikely at the moment, unless Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall or Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly were to succumb to injury during the closing stages of the season. Shaw will start for United against Brentford, making his 34th Premier League appearance of the campaign.
Manchester United predicted XI vs Brentford: midfield and attack
CM - Casemiro: The veteran Brazil international looks set to leave Old Trafford this summer, following the expiry of his contract. It’s been a mixed four seasons of Premier League football for the 34-year-old midfielder, who never quite recreated the stellar form that saw him become one of the world’s most coveted stars during his time at Real Madrid.
CM - Kobbie Mainoo: The rejuvenated midfielder has thrived since Carrick’s appointment, getting the game time that Amorim denied him. Another player with one eye of this summer’s World Cup, the young England hopeful will be looking to impress Thomas Tuchel over the coming weeks to book his place on the plane to North America.
AMR - Bryan Mbeumo: A real marquee signing for United last summer, the Cameroon international has enjoyed a decent first season at the club, scoring nine goals and providing three assists in the Premier League since his £65m move from Brentford.
AMC - Bruno Fernandes: United’s standout player by a country mile again this season, Fernandes is the beating heart of this United side. He’s also the top scoring midfielder on Fantasy Premier League this season, with a whopping 199 points thanks to a series of goals and assists. The Portuguese gem will be his side’s creative hub once again against the Bees, looking to create goalscoring chances at every given opportunity.
AML - Matheus Cunha: The Brazilian gem will complete a formidable attacking midfield trio. Much like Mbeumo, he’s had a decent first season at the club, and will be looking to push on to help United get their Champions League qualification mission complete. He joined the side last summer as part of a huge transfer window spree that saw the club spend over £200m on new signings.
ST - Benjamin Sesko: Another fresh signing last summer, Sesko has taken a little longer to bed in, largely due to his lack of Premier League experience compared to Cunha and Mbeumo. The 22-year-old has bags of raw talent and has all the makings of a top class striker, however. He’s on the verge of reaching double figures for Premier League goals this season, and he’ll have his eye on scoring plenty more in the 2026/27 campaign.