Why Nemanja Matic starts ahead of Paul Pogba for Manchester United vs Everton

Ralf Rangnick picked Nemanja Matic to start ahead of Paul Pogba in the Manchester United midfield at Everton because of his quality in possession of the ball.

The Serbian has come into the side for Pogba, who drops to the bench for the vital Goodison Park clash, with both sides in desperate need of the points for differing reasons.

That is one of six changes in total from the side that drew with Leicester City a week ago. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Alex Telles, Marcus Rashford and Cristiano Ronaldo also come in for Diogo Dalot, Raphael Varane, Luke Shaw, Scott McTominay and Anthony Elanga.

READ MORE: Everton vs United LIVE team news and build-up

“I had to choose between him and Pogba and I decided to start with Nemanja, as a holding six he’s one of the best players we have in possession of the ball so that’s why I went with him," Rangnick told MUTV.

“We need the best possible balance of being compact against the ball and still having enough offensive players on the pitch to dominate and create chances."

Rashford is making his 200th Premier League appearance today despite a run of poor form stretching back several months, with Rangnick searching for a solution to his issues on the right of attack.

The academy graduate has produced another good week of training at Carrington, which is why he's earned a start, while Rangnick has called on his side to show the aggression required to silence Goodison Park and claim a crucial win.

“As always he trained well that’s why I decided to have him in the starting XI today," he said of Rashford.

“In a game like this, it’s about desire and will to win, being aggressive as we can be and doing a lot of runs and sprints."

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