Eddie Howe 4-2-3-1 Man Utd predicted lineup, Digi Mart USA News: Eddie Howe’s 4-2-3-1 Man United lineup would keep Bruno Fernandes in the number 10 role and ask Mbeumo and Cunha to start the press from the wings. BBC Sport reports that United look increasingly likely to sack head coach Michael Carrick and that the club sounded out Howe over the job in October, but the club has not announced a decision and nothing is confirmed.
This is a prediction, not a leak. It starts from the XI United began with against Aston Villa on 8 November, official Fantasy Premier League injury data and how Howe’s Newcastle played.
The first game a new head coach could take charge of is at Liverpool on Sunday 22 November at 4.30pm UK time, and new managers rarely change the names overnight. The shape around them is what changes.
The predicted XI is Lammens in goal; Dalot, Maguire, Yoro and Dorgu in defence; Mainoo and Tielemans in midfield; Mbeumo, Fernandes and Cunha behind Zirkzee. Darlow, De Ligt, Martinez, Mazraoui, Heaven, Amad, Mount, Andrey Santos and Lacey are named on the bench.
Shaw, Sesko, Rashford, Baleba and Ugarte are listed as injured.
Lammens starts because he is the only United keeper with league minutes this season, 900 in official Fantasy Premier League data. BBC Sport rated him 4 against Villa, but no other keeper has played.
Maguire and Yoro are the centre-back pairing on the strength of minutes, 855 and 440 against 582 for Martinez. Maguire was a doubt before the Villa game and went off at half-time, so Martinez is the first reserve if he is not fit.
Dalot and Dorgu take the full-back places, Dorgu because Shaw is injured. Dorgu came on for Dalot in the 66th minute against Villa and scored and assisted in the 4-4 draw.
BBC Sport rated Dalot 4 that day, so right-back is the position most likely to change.
Mainoo and Tielemans form the pair behind Fernandes. Tielemans scored his first United goal on Sunday, and Mainoo’s chipped pass nearly released Amad.
Howe’s Newcastle pressed in the middle of the pitch with a midfield that moved as a unit, which is a lot to ask of this pair, and Andrey Santos, an unused substitute against Villa, is the alternative.
Fernandes is the number 10 and Cunha the left-sided pick. BBC Sport called Cunha “United’s most dangerous attacker” against Villa.
Mbeumo does the chasing on the right, as he did in the first half on Sunday, with Amad the first change from the bench. Zirkzee leads the line because Sesko is out with a shin injury, and he has played only 89 league minutes.
Howe’s record is mostly a 4-3-3, so a 4-2-3-1 is this prediction, not his habit. The Analyst described a 4-3-3 in March 2023 in which left-back Dan Burn tucked in to form a back three, and the side posted the fourth-lowest passes allowed per defensive action in the league that season, 11.3.
Newcastle’s 4-1 win over United in April 2025 used the same 4-3-3 and a high press, according to Coaches’ Voice, though assistant Jason Tindall led the side that day because Howe was unwell.
The reason for a 4-2-3-1 here is the squad: United have Fernandes for the number 10 role and two midfielders in Mainoo and Tielemans who started together against Villa. The defence is the problem any new manager inherits.
United sit 18th with one league win in 10 games and have conceded 19 league goals, a total only Crystal Palace and Ipswich exceed, according to BBC Sport. A high press with a back line this leaky is a risk.
Howe left Newcastle on 31 July. In almost five years he won 116 of 231 games, drew 43 and lost 72, and won the 2024-25 EFL Cup, beating Liverpool 2-1 in the final, according to beIN Sports.
Newcastle finished 12th in 2025-26. The trophy and the pressing record are the case for him, and the 12th-place finish is the case against.
BBC Sport says the board has made no final decision and that chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox are expected to make a recommendation to Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazers. Antonio Conte is known to be keen, and BBC Sport reports that Pochettino is open to a move to Old Trafford.
After Liverpool, United host Brentford on Saturday 28 November at 3pm and visit Newcastle on Wednesday 2 December at 8.15pm.
Is Carrick being sacked? BBC Sport reports that United look increasingly likely to sack him, but the club has not confirmed a decision.
Will Eddie Howe be the next Man Utd manager? No appointment has been made; BBC Sport reports that United sounded out Howe and Julian Nagelsmann in October.
What formation does Howe play? His Newcastle sides were mainly a 4-3-3, and a 4-2-3-1 at United is a prediction based on the squad.
