Manchester United could be in for a frustrating afternoon against Everton, with their opponents expected to make life difficult by defending deep and protecting the spaces around their penalty area.
This is the type of match where possession alone means very little.
United can dominate the ball, move it from side to side and still struggle to create clear chances if Everton remain compact. Breaking down a disciplined low block will require quick combinations, intelligent movement and attackers willing to constantly find pockets between the lines.
That puts enormous responsibility on United’s attacking players.
The expected front four of Marcus Rashford, Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo offers plenty of movement and creativity. Rather than relying on one fixed reference point, the quartet can rotate positions, interchange and attempt to drag Everton’s defenders away from their preferred defensive structure.
Rashford can threaten from the left with his pace and ability to attack space.
Cunha can operate between the midfield and defensive lines, looking to receive the ball in dangerous areas.
Bruno Fernandes provides the creativity, vision and passing range needed to unlock a stubborn defence.
Mbeumo offers another direct threat from the right, capable of cutting inside or attacking the space outside the full-back.
On paper, that combination gives United plenty of unpredictability.
But there is another option that could completely change the dynamic of the match.
Benjamin Sesko.
The Slovenian striker gives United something different from the mobile front four. His physical presence provides a genuine focal point in attack, while his movement inside the penalty area could give Everton’s defenders another problem to deal with.
Against a deep defensive block, having a striker capable of occupying centre-backs can be extremely valuable.
Instead of constantly trying to play through a packed midfield, United could potentially use Sesko as a reference point, deliver crosses into the box and attack second balls around him.
It would also allow Bruno and the other attacking players to operate closer to the penalty area rather than constantly dropping deep to find possession.
However, starting Sesko would mean sacrificing some of the fluidity offered by Rashford, Cunha, Bruno and Mbeumo together.
That is the tactical dilemma.
Do United prioritise mobility and creativity, hoping their rotations eventually create an opening?
Or do they introduce a traditional focal point and make Everton defend more directly inside their own penalty area?
There is also a third possibility.
Sesko could begin on the bench and be introduced if United find themselves struggling to break through. His arrival late in the match could completely change the nature of the contest, particularly if Everton’s defenders are tiring.
That could be a dangerous weapon for United.
The key will ultimately be movement.
If United stand in front of Everton’s defensive wall and simply circulate the ball slowly, they could spend much of the afternoon passing sideways without creating enough danger.
But if Rashford, Cunha, Bruno and Mbeumo constantly interchange, make runs beyond the defensive line and attack the spaces between Everton’s midfield and defence, gaps should eventually appear.
This is exactly the type of fixture where patience alone will not be enough.
United need imagination.
They need speed in possession.
And most importantly, they need players brave enough to receive the ball in crowded areas and make something happen.
The big question is whether Sesko should be trusted from the start or kept as United’s secret weapon for later.
Rashford, Cunha, Bruno and Mbeumo offer fluidity.
Sesko offers presence.
Against Everton’s low block, which one would you choose?