ANALYSIS

KEY ISSUES FOR REDS

ROMERO OR DE GEA?

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer refused to confirm if Sergio Romero would continue with his Europa League duties in Cologne, and recalling David de Gea would have major ramifications.

Demoting Romero would all but signal the end of his United career, with his new representatives already whipping up interest in the Argentinian, and such a show of loyalty to De Gea would hardly spur Dean Henderson to commit to the club.

Romero, a starter in all but one of United’s knockout ties in the Europa League in 2017, has the experience, proved himself a dependable deputy and deserves to keep goal again.

OTHER BIG-HITTERS BACK?

Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, and Mason Greenwood have already lined up in the Europa League this season, against Partizan Belgrade in the group stage, back when Greenwood was largely restricted to cup starts.

The front three make up United’s first-choice frontline now and none of the starters in the soporific win over LASK Linz did anything to suggest they should keep their place.

IS MAGUIRE RISKED?

Copenhagen finished a staggering 16 points behind Danish champions Midtjylland, winning just five of their 12 games following the domestic league’s restart in June. They do not necessarily demand a nearfull strength XI even if it is a European quarter-final.

When Harry Maguire next starts it will be his 60th for club and country and it could come almost a year to the day since his season started.

His presence against LASK was as pointless as it was risky.

WILLIAMS TO END ON A HIGH?

It is some reflection of Brandon Williams’ season that he was chosen as the player to join Solskjaer for his pre-match press conference.

Luke Shaw has been at United for four finals and not played in one of them due to injury or Jose Mourinho. Williams is surely guaranteed.