MANCHESTER UNITED 1 ALBION 3

Back in April, Paul Merson saw Roberto De Zerbi select a much-changed line-up and said on TV the Albion boss had given up on Europe.

They duly went out and smashed Wolves 6-0 while fans reached for their passports.

This time the head coach had already hinted that he might make some changes.

But it was still a surprise line-up which walked out at Old Trafford.

Rather than “given up” on Europe this time, the suggestion could be he had prioritised continental competition over the Old Trafford trip.

What followed was an exhibition which explained the team selection and was a credit to those who produced it, be it the players who came in, the mainstays or those who prepared them.

Albion had to weather pressure at first from a United side fired up to lift everyone on the pitch amid torrid times off it.

They had a bit of good fortune on a couple of occasions.

But they defended strongly and, when on the ball, often had United chasing shadows.

Some home fans were heading for the exits when Joao Pedro carefully guided home the third goal.

Some of those who didn’t applauded what they had seen.

A shot out of the blue from substitute Hannibal ruined the clean sheet and raised home spirits for a short while.

But Albion saw the final stages through with style and menace.

A 3-1 lead in the closing stages and they ‘shut up shop’ RDZ style - with a front four of Kaoru Mitoma, Evan Ferguson, Joao Pedro and Ansu Fati looking to add to the tally.

De Zerbi wants a squad of about 25 potential starters within gameplans they all fully understand, which would mean the club do not have to prioritise and certainly do not need to give up on any competition.

They might just need to spin plates at times.

On Saturday, they showed an ability to adapt and collectively bypass the tactical puzzle posed by United.

De Zerbi said: “Especially this season, we can change during the game.

“I change strategy. We can keep the energy, especially for the attackers.

“We are used to pressing for 90 minutes and it is difficult for the 90 minutes the same pressure.

“You have the possibility to change the attackers.”

Jason Steele was among the players to return and made a save from Marcus Rashford as well as setting the calm and confident tone for the passing game.

Lewis Dunk was, of course, the fulcrum and Jan Paul van Hecke stood up to the challenge alongside him on a day when Rashford looked like he fancied his chances against the Dutchman.

But you can go through the XI and pick out impressive players - and then give Albion a clear edge in what the subs offered, apart from Hannibal’s blast.

Steele said: “I think pretty much everyone has played already this season.

“Maybe there are a couple who have not but they will play soon without a doubt because they train at a level that would allow them to play in this team.

“We’ve got pretty much two players for every position.

“We all want to play every week, first and foremost.

“We try our hardest every day to get in the team, but we know that we’re not going play however many games it’s going be this season.

“I talk about how the group is and whoever is playing has the backing of whoever’s not playing.

“That’s a special environment. We all want to succeed, we all want to win together.

“There was a spell today, I think it was 80-odd minutes, and we were attacking and they countered on us.

“In my peripheral vision, I could just see ten lads on our bench, team-mates, just stood shouting ‘Run’ and encouraging their team mates. That’s special.”

Actually, Albion’s passing further forward was not at its best in the first half until they went ahead.

They played their way up the park to get Simon Adingra almost to the byline. His low cutback was allowed to run by Adam Lallana and Danny Welbeck finished in front of the Stretford End.

Albion’s two reprieves in that half came when Joel Veltman’s ungainly half-block sent Rashford’s shot on to the angle of post and bar.

And when Rasmus Hojlund finished a Rashford cut-back, only to learn via VAR that the ball had already crossed the byline by about as much as Pascal Gross’s header cleared the goal-line in Albion’s first win over United in the Prem error.

Gross added to his collection against United after a superb 30-pass move which went from centre to right to centre to left before Kaoru Mitoma and Lamptey combined.

The ball ran to Gross and he threw a lovely little body feint to send Lisandro Martinez the wrong way before shooting low past Andre Onana.

Lamptey motored forward again to tee up Joao Pedro, who adeptly guided home the third.

Hannibal’s finish might have made the finale exciting.

Equally, Ansu Fati, Mitoma and Ferguson might have made it humiliating.

As it was, this first chapter of a few huge weeks deserved the rapturous ovation it received from a vibrant away section.

Give it up for the Seagulls!