Manchester United will be hosting West Bromwich Albion on Saturday at Old Trafford. The Red Devils will be hoping to score their first Premier League goal after failing to find the net in their previous two meetings against Manchester City and Crystal Palace. West Brom on the other hand have been playing defensively by parking the bus in a hope to not conceding goals, a strategy that has had mixed results so far for Tony Pulis.
Team News:
James Wilson will be out due to an illness. Antonio Valencia will miss the game as he still hasn’t recovered from the foot injury he suffered in the Manchester Derby, while Luke Shaw and Paddy McNair continue to remain absent. Right Back Matteo Darmian will also be missing the match serving suspension as he had accumulated five yellow cards in the league this season.
Former United players Darren Fletcher and Jonny Evans are expected to be named in the starting line-up but goal keeper Ben Foster will miss out attacks as long term knee injury. Chris Brunt remains a doubtful starter for the match while former Liverpool striker Rickie Lambert is declared fit.
Predicted Line Up:
With Antonio Valencia injured and Darmian out with suspension, Ashley Young will again be taking the right back position with Marcos Rojo as the left back. Phil Jones is expected to start in place of Daley Blind. Morgan Schneiderlin is expected to be back after missing out against CSKA Moscow and partner Carrick in the central defensive midfield role.
With the Frenchman back, United’s spine will be strengthened further making it all the more hard for West Brom to hurt the Red Devils from swift counter attacks. Upfront, Rooney will hope to carry on scoring after having finally netted one against CSKA midweek, which made him the club’s 2nd joint top scorer of all times. Anthony Martial will probably play as a lone striker, while Depay will look to bring some consistency into his game finally.
Manchester United Possible Starting Lineup: De Gea, Ashley Young, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo, Schneiderlin, Carrick, Juan Mata, Rooney, Memphis Depay, Anthony Martial
West Bromwich Albion Possible Starting Lineup: Myhill; Dawson, McCauley, Evans, Brunt; McManaman, Fletcher, Yacob, McClean; Rondon, Berahino
Match Facts:
- West Brom are aiming for a third successive league victory at Old Trafford, a feat they last achieved in 1959.
- They have lost just one of their last five league meetings with Manchester United (W2, D2).
- United’s last home defeat in any competition came in this fixture on 2 May, when West Brom’s Jonas Olsson scored the only goal of the game.
- Manchester United remain unbeaten at home in the league this season (W3, D2).
- They haven’t conceded a goal in their last three league matches and have kept a league-high seven clean sheets this season.
- Christian Benteke’s overhead kick for Liverpool is the only league goal that United have conceded at home this campaign
- West Brom have lost just two of their last nine league games away from home (W5, D2).
- They have kept clean sheets in four of their five away matches in the Premier League this season – only Crystal Palace have scored against them.
Stats via BBC
Prediction:
A 1-0 win for the home side.
