RM: Ander Herrera
Started the last two matches for United after fans were pining for his involvement, and they’ve certainly be proved right with the Spaniard scoring the opening goal in both games.
He’ll certainly be confident of three in three if he again begins the match from the off.
CM: Daley Blind
Was startlingly anonymous against Swansea last week, so much so that his presence only became known after a number of fouls.
His lack of bite and fight will need to be addressed against a likely midfield bout with the irritable Lee Cattermole, he will definitely need to be more robust for.
LM: Angel Di Maria
Given the criticism the likes of Mesut Ozil have come under after failing to live up to the hype, it’s strange the Argentine hasn’t come under the same scrutiny.
However, the total blame can hardly be put on him with van Gaal insisting on playing him here, there and everywhere except the position he made his own in his last year at Real Madrid.
He’ll be hoping his more frequent starts on the wings will see him re-discover that brilliant form for the end of season run-in.
CAM: Marouane Fellaini
The insistence to keep using Fellaini as a battering ram rather than attempt to find a more gentle way of breaking down opponents is a strange one from van Gaal but you can’t say Fellaini isn’t effective with a number of crucial goals this season.
However, whether he can do it from the start of the match, rather than impacting from the bench is the question.