Manchester United’s dismal midweek exit from the League Cup has shattered any remnants of positivity around the club.
The manner of the defeat at Grimsby Town understandably angered the fanbase and cranked up the pressure on manager Ruben Amorim.
The result also creates a conundrum for Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers ahead of the Red Devils’ home game against Burnley on Saturday.
While Man United are odds-on favourites to defeat the Clarets, it would be a brave move to back them to pick up three points at Old Trafford.
Burnley held United to a 1-1 draw on their last visit to the Theatre of Dreams in April 2024, and their current team is stronger than the one which secured that result.
With that in mind, read on as we assess some of the United-focused elements FPL managers must consider when picking their teams this weekend.
Attacking questions abound
Man United spent more than £200 million to sign Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko this summer, but they have been unconvincing up to this point.
The trio have collectively tallied just ten FPL points between them in the opening two league games – a poor return given their respective qualities.
They looked disjointed at Grimsby and it may take time before they develop an understanding. Unfortunately, time is a commodity in short-supply in FPL.
Cunha and Mbeumo were both expected to be among the top ten in Spreadex Sports’ FPL predictions, and FPL managers may believe they are worth persevering with.
While a strong performance against Burnley would change the narrative for Man United’s forwards, their performances at Grimsby were hugely concerning.
Fernandes is another risky pick
Bruno Fernandes has been a consistent points scorer in FPL since joining United, but his early season performances have left a lot to be desired.
The Portuguese playmaker has not been helped by Amorim, who seems convinced that he is capable of playing in a deeper-lying midfield role.
While it is impossible to question his work ethic in that position, Fernandes is undoubtedly more effective when he is deployed further forward.
If Amorim sticks with his favoured 3-4-2-1 system, Fernandes’ points FPL output will likely take a significant hit this season.
His £9m price tag takes a sizeable chunk out of the £100m budget and cannot be justified is Amorim persists in playing him in a less favourable position.
De Ligt and Yoro are sensible defensive options
Matthijs de Ligt (11pts) and Leny Yoro (10pts) are the only United players who have reached double figures in the FPL points standings after two games.
Given that Burnley are expected to struggle on the road this season, a strong case can be made for them to be included in FPL teams this weekend.
The Dutch defender has taken three shots in the box and recorded 21 defensive contributions, highlighting his potential to garner points at both ends of the pitch.
Yoro weighed in with an assist against Fulham and has tallied 19 defensive contributions, statistics which also make him an attractive proposition for FPL managers.
Tripling up on United defenders by also including Patrick Dorgu in the starting XI may be a shrewd move due to the attacking intent he has shown in the first two matches.
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