Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is set to pair Raphael Varane with Lisandro Martinez against Liverpool tonight after putting the centre-backs together in training last week – with captain Harry Maguire facing demotion to the bench.
United will aim to secure their first points of the season after beginning the campaign with defeats against Brighton and Brentford, which has already piled the pressure on Ten Hag just two games into his tenure.
The Red Devils were beaten 2-1 by Graham Potter’s men on their new head coach’s Old Trafford bow, before they fell four goals behind in the space of 35 minutes away at Brentford.
New defensive recruit Martinez struggled in both losses, particularly in the four-goal drubbing against a buoyant Bees side, who took advantage of the defender’s 5ft 9in frame and outmuscled him on the day.
Many have questioned whether the £57m signing is tall enough to operate at centre-back in the Premier League, pointing to his height as a major cause for concern.
However, Sportsmail understands that Ten Hag is planning to pair Martinez with Varane in their crunch clash with Liverpool after training with the duo at centre-back last week.
That means Maguire, who has also come in for criticism after United’s opening two defeats, is likely to drop to the bench at Old Trafford this evening.
The England international has been scrutinised heavily by Red Devils fans over the past year, with some calling for him to be axed as captain following Ten Hag’s arrival.
Yet despite the signing of Martinez, the Dutchman remained adamant in pre-season that Maguire was one of the first names on his team sheet.
‘We bring [Martinez] in to not strengthen the squad, but the team,’ Ten Hag said. ‘Is Maguire a first-choice? I think he is.
‘He’s proved it in the past but he also has to prove it in the present time and in the future.
‘He has played how many times? Sixty times for England? He is a career that is really impressive and I expect a lot from him.
‘But there is also internal competition and that is what a club like Man United needs.’