I am not surprised by the starting XI. Nobody should be.
We know McFred is a problem. We know they don't take the ball from the back line well, nor are they press resistant.
But who have we got to play the Michael Carrick role? Nobody. So we're trying to make up for it with legs.
The problem is basically all our midfielders are #8s and not defensive #8s. McFred end up in there by default cos they're better at the specific role of hassling and harrying than the other options.
Its an indictment of our squad building over the past eight years but it is what it is.
Unless we buy, or someone emerges from our academy who looks like they could be our version of Joshua Kimmich, McFred is 'it'. Its not enough but I pray it will be enough today.