Manchester United will face off Nottingham Forest in their next Premier League game
Manchester United welcome Nottingham Forest to Old Trafford on Sunday, 17 May 2026, with kick-off set for 11:30 UTC. As the season enters its final phase, this Premier League fixture carries real importance for both sides. To me, the team selection tells its own story before a single boot even touches the turf.
In Goal: Senne Lammens keeps his spot
Senne Lammens should be starting between the sticks, and I see no reason for Carrick to move away from him now. The Belgian keeper has looked steady and composed all season, and playing at Old Trafford gives him the familiarity he needs to organise the defence with confidence.
The Back Four: Experience in the face of injuries
Luke Shaw lines up at left-back, a position he has truly made his own again after a difficult run with fitness. Noussair Mazraoui takes the right-back slot, bringing plenty of energy and the instinct to push forward when the space opens up. At centre-back, Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martínez pair up. With both Matthijs de Ligt sidelined through injury, Carrick’s options at the back are pretty limited. Maguire will need to lead this line with the kind of physical presence a home game like this demands.
The Double Pivot: Mainoo and Mount run the engine room
Kobbie Mainoo sits as the deeper of the two central midfielders, reading the game with a maturity that’s still impressive for his age. Mason Mount should partner him; despite his patchy injury record, Mount offers the technical quality and forward bursts that this system really relies on. Together, they form a double pivot that moves the ball from defense to attack without overcomplicating the play.
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The Attacking Trio: Cunha, Fernandes, and Diallo
Bruno Fernandes operates as the number ten, pulling the strings from the centre of that attacking line. Matheus Cunha will likely drift in from the left, offering the kind of pace and unpredictability that Forest’s right side will struggle to handle for ninety minutes. Amad Diallo takes the right flank, and even if he isn’t at peak sharpness yet, his directness and habit of cutting inside make United a constant threat on the break.
The Striker: Zirkzee gets the nod
Joshua Zirkzee starts as the lone forward in this 4-2-3-1 shape. Since Sesko is ruled out, Zirkzee has a massive opportunity here, and I honestly think he fits this system better than he gets credit for. He’s great at dropping deep to link play and holding the ball up long enough for the midfielders to join the attack, which is exactly what Carrick needs from his striker in a game like this.
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This is my predicted XI, and it’s a lineup I feel comfortable standing behind. The injuries definitely hurt, especially losing De Ligt from the defensive rotation, but the starting eleven still looks balanced and purposeful. Old Trafford usually gives United the advantage, and with this group, Carrick has more than enough quality to secure the result.
Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Mazraoui, Maguire, Martínez, Shaw; Mount, Mainoo; Diallo, Fernandes, Cunha; Zirkzee
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