Nagasudha Bethu

Wednesday 20 November 2024 12:00 Share With email Copy Link Ruben Amorim takes charge of his first game as Manchester United head coach on Sunday.

The Reds travel to Portman Road, where we'll play Ipswich Town in the Premier League at 16:30 GMT.

It's 22 years since we faced the Tractor Boys in the top-flight, but there is a sense of familiarity as they are managed by former United coach Kieran McKenna and have Academy graduate Axel Tuanzebe on the playing staff.

The Suffolk club chalked off their first win of the campaign at Tottenham last time out and will be aiming for another scalp, in what will be a momentous occasion as a new United era begins.

Here's what you need to know...

Premier League wins v Ipswich Collection We've beaten Ipswich five times in the Premier League era, including the division's joint-largest margin of victory...

HOW TO WATCH AND FOLLOW

Tune in to MUTV from 15:25 GMT for our Match Day Live show, with former Reds Danny Simpson and Danny Webber providing the punditry.

Live radio commentary will be available during the game itself, before we switch back to pitchside at Portman Road - and our Old Trafford studio - for post-match analysis.

Sky Sports have the exclusive live broadcast rights in the UK. Look out for short highlights of the encounter two hours after the final whistle, and longer versions from midnight onwards.

TEAM NEWS

Amorim will hold his pre-match press conference at Carrington on Friday (13:30 GMT) and should be able to provide a more comprehensive update on the make-up of his first matchday squad.

Kobbie Mainoo, Tyrell Malacia, Luke Shaw and Leny Yoro are all back in team training following injury, while Amad has been working at Carrington after pulling out of international duty with a knock

Victor Lindelof and Lisandro Martinez are being assessed after dropping out of the Sweden and Argentina squads during the break, while Harry Maguire has been working on his rehabilitation having been sidelined since the start of October.

The home side can welcome Kalvin Phillips back from his one-match suspension, awarded for two bookings during the 1-1 draw with Leicester City.

Nathan Broadhead (groin), Jacob Greaves (thigh) and Jack Taylor (hamstring) should be further along with their recoveries after the break, but Chiedozie Ogbene is unlikely to play again this season following Achilles surgery.

Article See our full update as Ruben works with a group of players at Carrington.

FORM GUIDE

United's short stint under the interim guidance of Ruud van Nistelrooy ended successfully, with a 3-0 victory over Leicester City just prior to the international break.

The Reds sit 13th in the Premier League but are just four points away from third-placed Chelsea in what is a bunched-up table after 11 weeks of action.

McKenna's men finally got off the mark in terms of wins with an impressive 2-1 success at Tottenham, summer signings Sammie Szmodics and Liam Delap scoring the goals.

Prior to that, the Tractor Boys had been denied with late strikes in consecutive weeks, with Bryan Mbeumo settling a 4-3 thriller for Brentford deep into stoppage time and Andre Ayew securing a last-gasp point for Leicester.

Ipswich are looking to record a first top-flight home victory since April 2002 but have been competitive at Portman Road this season, most notably in draws against Aston Villa and Fulham.

ONES TO WATCH

Manchester City graduate Delap has proved a valuable addition to the frontline, scoring six times in 11 games, including a double in the aforementioned clash with Villa. Delap, who has spent the last few seasons developing at Championship level, featured in both games for England's Under-21s during the break, and will look to cause United problems with his strength and hold-up play.

Delap's fellow forwards Szmodics and Omari Hutchinson also don't seem to have been fazed by the step-up in level, while Leif Davis has been touted as a future England left-back in some quarters.

The former Leeds defender is Ipswich's only ever-present in the league this season, and his volley during the 1-1 draw with Leicester will surely be a contender for November's Goal of the Month prize.

DID YOU KNOW?

United have won 17 of the 19 Premier League games we've played against newly promoted sides since November 2021, drawing the other two. This includes an ongoing run of nine straight victories away from home in such games.

This will be the first meeting between Ipswich and United in any competition since a 3-0 win for the Reds at Old Trafford in the League Cup in September 2015. Wayne Rooney, Andreas Pereira and Anthony Martial were our scorers that day.

The Tractor Boys have had the fewest shots (108), shots on target (33), touches in the opposition's box (199) and expected goals (10.2) of any side in the 2024/25 Premier League season.

Thanks to Opta.

Article The new Reds head coach will have his eye on some key games in the run-up to Christmas.

OTHER FIXTURES

SATURDAY 23 NOVEMBER

Leicester v Chelsea (12:30 GMT)Arsenal v Nottingham ForestAston Villa v Crystal PalaceBournemouth v BrightonEverton v BrentfordFulham v WolvesManchester City v Tottenham (17:30 GMT)

SUNDAY 24 NOVEMBER

Southampton v Liverpool (14:00 GMT)Ipswich v UNITED (16:30 GMT)

MONDAY 25 NOVEMBER

Newcastle v West Ham (20:00 GMT)

All kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated.

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Nagasudha Bethu

Wednesday 20 November 2024 12:00 Share With email Copy Link Back to Top

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