Confirmed United team to face Watford

Solskjaer has named an unchanged starting XI from the sides that faced both Everton and Manchester City in the Premier League.

After rotating the squad for Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Colchester United, the United boss has selected the same team that earned a point at home to the Toffees and beat rivals City at the Etihad.

Harry Maguire will wear the armband, with the skipper lining up in the centre of defence alongside Victor Lindelof. Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka complete a back four ahead of David De Gea in goal.

In midfield, Fred and Scott McTominay once again are side by side in the centre of the park for the fourth league game in a row. The fire power for the Reds today will come in the form of a front four of Daniel James, Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.

Paul Pogba makes a return to the matchday squad after being out injured since the Arsenal match at the end of September and he is joined on the bench by Sergio Romero, Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata, Andreas Pereira, Ashley Young and Mason Greenwood, who scored last time out after coming on as a substitute against Everton.

Looking ahead to the match, Ole told MUTV: "We are hoping for a performance like we have shown in the last few weeks. I think as a group and a squad we are getting better, we are working on consistency in our game, but coming away from home is never easy. We hope to have a good foundation to build from, by defending well and dominating the game whenever we can."

And on Pogba's return to the squad, the boss added: "It is very important that we have everyone fit and available. Paul, obviously, is one of our best players when he is in form and he is back in the squad today. He has got an influence off the pitch as well, because he is a good character in and around the place, so I hope that I don't have to use but I hope I can use him."

Meanwhile Hornets head coach Nigel Pearson, who is taking charge of his first home game as Watford manager, has also opted for the same starting XI from their previous league outing – a 2-0 defeat at Liverpool.

Team line-ups

Watford: Foster; Mariappa, Kabasele, Cathcart, Femenía; Sarr, Capoue, Doucouré, Hughes; Deulofeu, Deeney (c).

Subs: Gomes, Dawson, Masina, Chalobah, Gray, Success, Pereyra.

United: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire (c), Shaw; Fred, McTominay; James, Lingard, Rashford; Martial.

Subs: Romero, Young, Matic, Pogba, Mata, Andreas, Greenwood.

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