Don't you think that's to protect what is quite a weak centre back pairing?
If you look at the attacking players he uses, he always plays 4, this time Kane, Rashford, Bellingham and Foden, with 2 holding midfielders.. Rice and Phillips.. who would you lose?
Would you leave out Phillips for say a fit Saka, or Maddison and play Bellingham as a no 8 type midfielder? I thought he was fantastic in that no 10 role the other night, maybe shoe Horning all of our best attacking players in one side will destabilise the team?