Rasmus Hojlund has failed to net in the Premier League this season but starting one inform Manchester United midfielder may well be key for the Red Devils.
The Danish forward, once again, looked impressive for Manchester United and was perhaps slightly unfortunate to not have received a penalty against FC Copenhagen.
Erik ten Hag will of course stick by Rasmus Hojlund but the 20-year-old is goalless in six Premier League games, despite being the joint top goalscorer in the Champions League.
Hojlund has commented on how nice it would be for him to score his first Premier League goal against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and this midfielder could be key to achieve this.
Why Eriksen could start in new position
It’s fair to say Pep Guardiola loves a radical tactical idea so how about Ten Hag springs a tactical surprise of his own and starts Christian Eriksen, but not in the midfield instead on the right-hand side.
Eriksen’s assist for Harry Maguire’s winner on Tuesday was delivered from the right and this could be the key to unlocking Hojlund’s ability in the air, which hasn’t been seen, as of yet.
The Danish midfielder isn’t afraid to drift out wide and it was his delicious cross into the penalty box last season that found Marcus Rashford’s head in the 1-0 win against West Ham United.
Hojlund is a physical menace, as seen by his debut against Arsenal, and finding him with these searching crosses could be the key for the Red Devils.
Eriksen and Fernandes
The worry when out possession with Eriksen on the right-hand side will be the lack of pace and energy going the other way and if Jeremy Doku, City’s dangerous winger, starts United may be in trouble.
The simple switch or solution for this issue would be to allow Bruno Fernandes to switch with Eriksen and the Portuguese midfielder to move out to the right-hand side and assist Diogo Dalot.
Whether Erik ten Hag would sanction such a risk in a game of such magnitude seems unlikely but this would certainly be a potential solution to the problem Hojlund is facing at the moment.
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