Why Ralf Rangnick has made four changes to Manchester United team vs Watford

Ralf Rangnick insists the four changes he has made to his Manchester United side to face Watford are about introducing "fresh legs and fresh energy" into the side.

Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford have all dropped out of the side, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Alex Telles, Nemanja Matic and Anthony Elanga coming in.

United haven't got a game for eight days after today but they have had a gruelling schedule recently and had two draining games this week, in torrential rain at Leeds and in the Champions League against Atletico Madrid.

“It’s our third game in six days, we only came back very late [in midweek] so it’s about fresh people, fresh legs, fresh energy and some things we need tactically against this team," Rangnick told MUTV.

All four of the players to come in made an impact off the bench in Madrid on Wednesday, but Rangnick said that hadn't solely influenced his decision for today.

“It was not about the reward but the best possible line-up to win this game. It helped they did well when they came on, for then and for our game against Atletico," he said.

United face a Watford side deep in relegation trouble today, but under fairly new management in Roy Hodgson, and Rangnick is aware of the threat they could pose on the break.

“We have to control the game in possession and make sure they don’t get transitional moments, this is their biggest weapon, the way they try to play, so for us it’s having control in possession and making sure we have the best possible rest defence," he said.