AZ Alkmaar vs Manchester United LIVE: Result and latest reaction from Europa League fixture
Follow live Europa League updates as Man Utd take on AZ
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Your support makes all the difference.Manchester United are expected to again line-up with a young team in the Europa League when they take on AZ Alkmaar this evening.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is missing a number of the first-team squad through injury, including Ashley Young, Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial.
The match will take place on a plastic pitch in The Hague, as Alkmaar continue to rebuild their stadium following the collapse of a roof. Follow it live:
Match preview
Predicted line-ups:
United: Romero; Dalot, Lindelof, Tuanzebe, Rojo; Matic, Fred, Mata; Lingard, Greenwood, Rashford
AZ: Bizot; Rhijn, Vlaar, Wuytens, Wijndal; Clasie, Koopmeiners, Midtso; Stengs, Idrissi, Boadu
When is it?
Kick-off is at 5:55pm (BST) on Thursday October 3rd.
How can I watch it?
The match will be broadcast live on BT Sport 2, with coverage starting at 5:30pm. Users can also watch on the BT Sport App and on BTSport.com.
Odds
Alkmaar 21/10
United 7/5
Draw: 12/5
Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of AZ vs Manchester United in the Europa League.
Plenty of changes for United then. Young Brandon Williams makes his first start for the club at left back, while Mason Greenwood will be looking to build on his impressive performance last time out in the Europa League against Astana.
A victory in the Netherlands tonight might help to relieve some of the pressure on Ole Gunner Solskjaer, after another underwhelming Premier League performance against Arsenal on Monday night.
Hopes of a top four challenge are already dwindling at United, so the Europa League could provide some welcome escapism. This evening's game could prove difficult, though: AZ Alkmaar have started well in the Eredivisie and the match, due to the adverse weather prior to kick-off, will be played on a synthetic pitch.
Elsewhere in Manchester United's group, Partizan Belgrade are 2-0 up away at Astana. As it stands, the Serbian side top Group L, but United can overtake them with a win tonight.
Here's what Solskjaer had to say about the prospect of playing on an artificial pitch:
"I was surprised they have chosen to play on this pitch when I look at it.
"I am used to Astroturf pitches from back home in Norway and it is not the best I have seen. It is one of the worst ones I have seen for a long while.
"We have all got standards back home in Norway. They are all more modern and new, and you get them changed.
"But it is safe. It's just not the newest."
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