Manchester United are coming off a 3-2 win against Liverpool.
The hard part is done. Kobbie Mainoo’s late winner against Liverpool last Sunday settled the debate about whether Manchester United would be back in the Champions League, a 3-2 win at Old Trafford confirming it with three games to spare. Michael Carrick has now won ten of his 14 league games in charge, and the mood at the club is about as far removed from the wreckage Ruben Amorim left behind as it could possibly be. Saturday’s trip to the Stadium of Light is a chance to go one better and make third place a genuine possibility.
Sunderland’s return to the Premier League after nine years away has been quietly impressive under Regis Le Bris. They sit 12th with 47 points, were unbeaten at home for their first 12 league games of the season, and beat Tottenham 1-0 at the Stadium of Light as recently as April 12. But the form since then has wobbled. A 5-0 home thrashing by Nottingham Forest was followed by a 1-1 draw at Wolves last weekend in a game that will be remembered more for Daniel Ballard’s controversial red card for hair-pulling than for anything that happened on the ball. Ballard is now suspended and his appeal has not been resolved in time for Saturday.
United’s head-to-head record here gives little cause for concern. They have lost just once in their last 15 Premier League visits to the Stadium of Light, and none of the last five meetings between the two sides has ended in a draw.
Manchester United Injury Updates
Carrick confirmed on Thursday that Bruno Fernandes’s late substitution against Liverpool was purely tactical, with Leny Yoro introduced to see out the game. He is expected to start. The bigger concern is Benjamin Sesko, who aggravated a pre-existing shin injury after a collision with Ibrahima Konate and was withdrawn before the hour mark. Carrick said it did not seem serious, and the Slovenian has a chance of featuring. Matthijs de Ligt has now missed 23 United matches with his lower back problem and remains out.
Sunderland vs. Manchester United Predicted Lineups
Sunderland (4-2-3-1): Roefs; Mukiele, O’Nien, Alderete, Reinildo; Xhaka, Sadiki; Talbi, Diarra, Le Fee; Brobbey
Manchester United (4-3-3): Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko
Prediction
United are the fresher side in terms of mentality, momentum and squad depth. Sunderland are depleted, out of form, and facing a side that has lost once in 15 visits here. The only question worth asking is whether Carrick rests anyone ahead of the final stretch. Even if he does, there is more than enough in this squad to win comfortably.
Prediction: Sunderland 0-2 Manchester United