Benjamin Sesko has finally made his name a regular in the Manchester United starting squad – and the time seems really long overdue.
Michael Carrick used Michael Alassa to give the 22-year-old Slovenian forward his first league start on Sunday, March 1, 2026, when Manchester United takes on Crystal Palace at Old Trafford in a vital Premier League game.
Amad Diallo, who has become a regular in the team, is dropped to the bench to accommodate. It is a move which shows the irresistible Sesko constitution – which may well become the impulse of United to the top four.
Lucrative and Skillful: The Road to the Starting XI.
Carrow never even included Sesko in his first XI in the first six games of his tenure. He had only nine to play against Arsenal after observing the Manchester derby victory on the bench of substitutes and then, it was his turn against Fulham.
Ever since that night he has not looked back. His Fulham victory came his goals against Everton and a last-minute draw at West Ham, and his total goals in the last seven games, the majority of them off the bench, were six. In February 2026, he won the Player of the Month reward, which was given to performances that became difficult to overlook.
What Carrick Has Said
Carrow has also praised the influence of Sesko on the team, including the quality of his finishing that he has described as ruthless, as well as attributing the role of super-sub to provide a real positive to the team.
Most importantly, the interim manager observed that the integration of Sesko did not bring any drama at all, which is a great way of making a point considering that the United had a very turbulent season prior to the appointment of Carrick.
Today, as the results have been supporting him and the player is at his highest level of confidence, Carrick has taken the call. The first whistle is the start of the line that Sesko takes.
United Lineup vs Crystal Palace.
The starting XI that Carrick has announced to play against Crystal Palace led by Oliver Glasner is as follows:
- GK: Senne Lammens
- DEF: Lucentio Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro, Luke Shaw.
- MID: Casemiro, Kobbie Mainoo
- INR: Alexander Zamlyn, Nuno Santos, Jose Pedro Alves.
- ST: Benjamin Sesko
The shape is clear. Fernandes works behind Sesko and Cunha drifts to the left and Mbeumo is offering width to the right. It is the very same arrangement Gary Neville had planned and Carrick has brought it to fruition.
The Stakes Are High
United are now 1-0 at the half, so the first start of Sesko has pressure on it. But that is not the first time that he has felt the pressure. He has got accustomed to coming to hard times and scoring the net.
The summer acquisition of RB Leipzig at a fee of £73.7 million has demonstrated the speed, height, and calmness that has made United spend a lot of money in him. This will be his time to demonstrate those attributes very first and not necessarily as a sub finisher coming off the bench.
This is important to the season of United.
Being undefeated in the recent Manchester United Premier League run under Carrick leadership, they are in full throttle in qualifying to the champions league. A victory today over Crystal Palace would give that push a very serious boost.
It is a bold decision to drop Amad Diallo. United has had a few positive players this season and the young Ivorian is one of them but form is a demand that requires hard choices. Carrick has made his.
The following 45 minutes will reveal a lot about the direction the United are going in – and whether Sesko is capable of bearing the burden of a starting position as well as the rewards of a late substitute.
Having scored six times in seven games, a Player of the Month award, and the support of his manager, Benjamin Sesko has earned this moment. Old Trafford is watching.
