Ten Hag explains his United team
Erik ten Hag has talked through his Manchester United side after making three changes for the visit of Everton.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Harry Maguire and Tyrell Malacia are introduced in defence, with Diogo Dalot, Raphael Varane and Luke Shaw replaced.
Shaw is injured so absent from the squad, while Maguire takes over the captain's armband from Bruno Fernandes.
Denmark playmaker Christian Eriksen is on the bench as he makes his comeback ahead of schedule, as predicted earlier in the week.
'You need more than 11 players'
Erik explains the three changes to United's defence for this afternoon's game against Everton...
The boss told BT Sport that Bruno will continue to operate in a deeper role, suggesting Marcel Sabitzer may push further forward, as he did in the 1-0 win over Brentford in midweek.
"Yeah, [Fernandes did play deeper on Wednesday] and against Newcastle and against Fulham," Ten Hag explained. "He had some games [there]. We miss Casemiro and Christian Eriksen and have to sort things out to have a good balance in the midfield. It worked very well in the last game and I think Bruno is doing a great job there."
The changes are due to having to rotate, with Shaw sidelined as well, so Eriksen's return is a boost.
"I think we have the most crazy schedule in this week," Erik added. "Three games to cover in six days and then the lunch game as well, which is not right, but we have to do it.
"It's very good news [having Christian in the squad]. We need top-quality players so we miss him and we're happy he's back. Hopefully, he's back but also in form."
THE TEAMS
United: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Maguire (c), Martinez, Malacia; McTominay, Fernandes; Antony, Sabitzer, Sancho; Rashford.
Substitutes: Butland, Dalot, Lindelof, Varane, Eriksen, Fred, Martial, Pellistri, Weghorst.
Everton: Pickford; Coleman (c), Tarkowski, Keane, Godfrey; Iwobi, Onana, Gueye, McNeil; Gray, Simms.
Substitutes: Begovic, Coady, Holgate, Mina, Mykolenko, Patterson, Davies, Garner, Maupay.