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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
George Smith

Manchester United fans react to starting line-up vs Leeds as Jesse Lingard handed shock start

Interim manager Ralf Rangnick has named his starting line-up for Manchester United's showdown with Leeds United at Elland Road this afternoon, making some huge selection calls.

United, who brushed Leeds aside on the opening day of the season back in August, winning 5-1 at Old Trafford, will be looking to build on Tuesday evening's hard-fought 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion.

Second half goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes sealed a much-needed win for the Reds, ensuring they brought an end to their three-game winless run in league and cup. That win was enough to lift them back into the top-four and they could increase their lead on West Ham United this afternoon after they drew with Newcastle United yesterday.

Rangnick, who will be hoping to lead United to a first Premier League win over Leeds at Elland Road since October 2003, has made three changes to the side that won in midweek.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard have come into the side, meaning Diogo Dalot, Anthony Elanga and Fred have dropped out.

Meanwhile, the likes of Raphael Varane, Alex Telles and Marcus Rashford have been named amongst the substitutes. However, Edinson Cavani, as expected, has missed out on the matchday squad once again.

Having made three changes to his side, Rangnick will be hoping that it proves to be enough to help the Reds secure a second consecutive league win and complete a famous double against one of their biggest rivals.

It is the German's decision to hand Lingard a shock start that has attracted the most attention from United's supporters in the immediate aftermath of the team news being confirmed, with the former West Ham loanee having found opportunities hard to come by this season.

Below, MEN Sport has taken a close look at what some of United's supporters have had to say in response to Lingard's inclusion.

As you can see from the messages displayed in the tweets above, Rangnick's decision to name Lingard in the starting line-up has gone down a treat, with the supporters delighted to see the England international handed his first Premier League start of the campaign.

United starting line-up: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; McTominay, Pogba, Fernandes; Lingard, Ronaldo, Sancho.

Substitutes: Henderson, Telles, Dalot, Varane, Fred, Mata, Matic, Elanga, Rashford.

This afternoon's highly-anticipated contest at Elland Road gets under way at 2:00pm and you can follow all of the action on our matchday blog, which you can access by clicking here.

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