After Liverpool won yesterday Jose Mourinho’s side are just one point clear in second place but a win today would put that gap back to four points with five games to play.
Phil Jones could return for United for the first time in two months after he was spotted arriving at the Lowry Hotel with his teammates yesterday. The England defender hasn’t played for United since the defeat against Newcastle in February.
But five players could miss the game as Luke Shaw, Eric Bailly, Matteo Darmian, Marouane Fellaini and Michael Carrick were not spotted arriving with the team.
Mourinho’s just handed Martial and Rashford a big challenge
Mourinho’s team has to pose as a challenge to Martial and Rashford, right-footers overlooked in favour of a left-footer on the right. They are both dismal whenever they play on the right but, amid supposed concerns over their lack of playing time, need to be jolted if they are to regain their place in the United XI.
Mourinho rightly said there is ‘nothing more I can do’, in regards to their current situations. Lingard is more unfortunate to be starting today on the bench than Martial or Rashford, so whenever they get an opportunity they have to take it.
Pop quiz, hotshot: when did Manchester United last score five goals in a league game? You probably know the answer. It was, symbolically enough, their last game under Sir Alex Ferguson, the 5-5 draw with West Brom in May 2013. They will hope to change that today against a team who accepted relegation a long time ago.
United only need a draw to ensure Manchester City do not clinch the title – but after last weekend’s glorious victory at the Etihad Stadium, they will want a thumping win to reinforce the feeling that next season is going to be different.
Jose Mourinho’s team could end with 89 points, a total exceeded by only seven teams in the Premier League era – and two of those were in a 42-game season. You’ll have your own thoughts about whether Mourinho is overachieving with a limited team or underachieving with a big budget, or even doing a bit of both. But he’s probably right when he says the team deserves a bit more respect.
Manchester United will hope to tighten their grip on second place in the Premier League table as basement dwellers West Brom today.
Since losing 1-0 at Newcastle in February, United have won their last five League games in a row – including home wins over Chelsea and Liverpool, and an away victory at Manchester City.
But should West Brom win at Old Trafford today, Manchester City will be crowned Premier League champions.
The match is available via Now TV, with a day pass on offer for £6.99, and will be televised live on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event. Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match online via SkyGo and SkyGo app.
Live Updates
Subs: Jones, Rojo, Martial, Lingard, Rashford, McTominay, Joel Pereira
Subs: Yacob, Myhill, Sturridge, Gabr, Burke, Krychowiak, Field
Welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Man United vs West Brom.
Starting line-ups
Man Utd XI: de Gea, Valencia, Lindelof, Smalling, Young, Ander Herrera, Matic, Pogba, Mata, Lukaku, Sanchez
Subs: Jones, Rojo, Martial, Lingard, Rashford, McTominay, Joel Pereira
West Brom XI: Foster, Nyom, Dawson, Hegazi, Gibbs, Phillips, Livermore, Brunt, McClean, Rondon, Rodriguez
Subs: Yacob, Myhill, Sturridge, Gabr, Burke, Krychowiak, Field
Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire)