Predicted Manchester United line-up for Ten Hag’s first pre-season game v Liverpool

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Manchester United’s first pre-season takes place later today as the Erik ten Hag era begins to take shape.

United face old rivals Liverpool in Bangkok, Thailand, looking for a performance which offers reason to be optimistic after a terrible 2021/22 season.

It will be a useful test for Ten Hag, who will face Liverpool in the third Premier League game of the season at Old Trafford in August.

What time does Manchester United v Liverpool kick-off

The match will kick-off at 2pm UK time. United’s next three games on tour all take place before midday.

How to watch Manchester United in pre-season

The only UK broadcaster showing the game is MUTV. Coverage begins at 1.30pm.

How will Manchester United line-up v Liverpool

Manchester United have taken 31 players on tour, so whittling this down to 11 players is open to getting a projected line-up wildly wrong.

Just like in last year’s opening friendly against Derby County, United are expected to make 11 substitutions, possibly all at half-time. And even then, nine players would miss out.

Erik ten Hag would have to choose whether to pick his perceived strongest side all at once, or spread them out across each half.

It is a little easier when taking into account positional scarcity. United lack strikers, and there are also now two defensive injuries to consider. The MEN report Raphael Varane missed the training session and Harry Maguire also trained individually. So both players could miss this pre-season opener.

The Telegraph reported how Erik ten Hag selected 11 first team players for a training drill on Monday, hinting at how the manager may select his side. In a vacuum of other information, which would leave total guesswork, this is the safest bet for the team which could start against Liverpool in Bangkok.

• Manchester United v Liverpool: July 12, 2pm UK time, venue: Thailand.
• Manchester United v Melbourne Victory: July 15, 11.05am UK time, venue: Australia.
• Manchester United v Crystal Palace: July 19, 11.10am UK time, venue: Australia.
• Manchester United v Aston Villa, July 23, 10.45am, venue: Australia
• Manchester United v Atletico Madrid, July 30: 1.45pm, venue: Norway
• Manchester United v Rayo Vallecano, July 31: 4pm, venue: Old Trafford