Manchester United will most likely have do to without Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelf, which only require others to step up, if you ask Sharpe.
They're certainly going to be missed but Martinez has missed the biggest part of the season, so it's nothing new for Ten Hag. It's just up to the other players to come in and take responsibility, but it's not just about the back four, it's about the midfielders making sure things are tight as well," says Sharpe who is also hoping for another big game from Alejandro Garnacho on the wing.
He has been absolutely fantastic this season. He's scored some wonderful goals; he's changed defence into attack in a matter of seconds. He's really been the bright spark of what's been a really inconsistent and frustrating season," Sharpe says of a player perhaps shaping up to walk in the footsteps of great wingers like Ryan Giggs and Sharpe himself.
He is still young, so he will still make little mistakes, positional and decisional mistakes, where he gives the ball away. But all in all, he's had an unbelievable season. I think he's probably been the standout player for Manchester United, along with Mainoo. Long may it continue.
I just hope he kicks on from here. I think you can see he grows in confidence; he knows he's going to be playing and the more minutes he gets, the better he gets," Sharpe thinks while also hoping to see another youngster on Sunday who proved decisive when scoring the winner in the FA Cup-drama against Liverpool.
I think Amad looked good when he came on. He looked sharp and bright; he got involved in the game. I'm not sure whether he'll start, but I certainly hope he gets on the pitch, because it would be a shame to waste that talent."
Having once been involved himself in a big 3-1 win against Liverpool as a player fairly new to the squad, Sharpe knows full well, how important a moment like that is for a youngster in the team.
To score the winner against Liverpool in the dying minutes, he'll dine out on that for years. He will never have to work because that story will get circulated forever. You go into the next game on a high, feeling as though you can beat the world," Sharpe recalls from his own days at Old Trafford, where a lot of people would like Ivan Toney to appear in a Manchester United shirt in a near future.
United need more than Ivan Toney
Darragh MacAnthony, the Peterborough chairman who bought and sold Toney, even thinks adding the Brentford striker to the squad would make United title-challengers, but Sharpe is not in total agreement with that statement.
When you consider that Man United have almost allowed more shots on their own goal this season than any team in the Premier League, I don't think Ivan Toney is going to help. He might come in and score a hat-trick every week, but if United are giving the chances away, like they are, they could let in three or four themselves. I think both ends of the team need to be looked at," Sharpe responds while touching upon one of the issues The Red Devils" have struggled with all season.
Only Sheffield United and Luton concede more shots than Manchester United according to whoscored.com and the inconsistency has been put on display in the last two United games. Playing a great game against Liverpool, only to be played off the park by Brentford, which leaves Sharpe as frustrated as any United supporter.
It's been the story so far this season. They put in a world-class performance and get a world-class result and then go into the next game and look like a totally different team. Injuries to senior players have a lot to do with that. The change in the team doesn't help. But it's certainly something that needs to be addressed and put right sooner rather than later," says Sharpe who nevertheless goes for another home win against the arch-rivals.
I'll always go for the win against Liverpool, of course," Sharpe laughs, leaving us tipping a 2-1 scoreline on Sunday.
- Lee Sharpe was talking to Tribalfootball on behalf of sports betting site BetVictor