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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Liam Wood

'Deserves it' - Manchester United fans react to shock Phil Jones selection vs Liverpool

Manchester United supporters are backing Phil Jones to stop Mohamed Salah and co after Ralf Rangnick named his starting XI for the Premier League game against Liverpool tonight (8pm). Rangnick has made four changes at Anfield with Cristiano Ronaldo absent due to personal reasons.

United were without five injured players - namely Luke Shaw, Raphael Varane, Fred, Scott McTominay and Edinson Cavani - against Norwich on Saturday afternoon and the quintet are not fit enough to start here, but McTominay makes the bench. Marcus Rashford steps in for Ronaldo after the tragic death of his newborn son.

The other three alterations see Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jones and Nemanja Matic replace Alex Telles, Jadon Sancho and Jesse Lingard. As such, a change in formation is also predicted with United reverting to a back three, or perhaps five, with Diogo Dalot and Wan-Bissaka operating as wing-backs.

READ MORE: We simulated Liverpool vs Manchester United to get a score prediction

During his pre-match press conference, Rangnick confirmed United will, once again, be without Shaw (leg), Varane (unsure), Fred (hip), and Uruguay frontman Cavani (calf) for the Liverpool game. By contrast their title-chasing opponents do not have a single injury concern.

Having started as a lone sitter against Norwich on Saturday afternoon, Paul Pogba is joined in the United line-up by the experienced Serb Matic - making his first start since announcing that he will leave Old Trafford at the end of this season amid further plans to revamp the engine room.

The biggest question mark for Rangnick was to select who would replace Ronaldo. Rashford was overlooked when the five-time Ballon d'Or winner missed out against Leicester City through illness earlier this month.

Bruno Fernandes was chosen to lead the line on the occasion. However, that man Rashford has been given the nod. Here are a selection of social media comments from United supporters;

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