So, three wins in a row… Yes, United are playing well and starting to build some momentum after victories over Zorya Luhansk, Tottenham Hotspur and, most recently, Crystal Palace, which made it nine games unbeaten in all competitions. But there’s no time to savour Wednesday’s late success at Selhurst Park as Jose Mourinho’s side are on the road again at West Bromwich Albion, who are sitting one place and four points below the Reds in the table. Tony Pulis has typically fashioned a robust, hard-to-beat side and the Baggies have won four of their last six league games, only losing narrowly at leaders Chelsea last weekend.
There’ll be a couple of familiar faces in their side, won’t there? More than likely, yes. Former United goalkeeper Ben Foster, midfielder Darren Fletcher and defender Jonny Evans have been mainstays in the team this season, though Evans is a slight doubt after missing their midweek win over Swansea City with a calf injury. "It’ll be good to see them again – they’re good guys and great professionals," David De Gea told MUTV earlier this week.
What's the other team news? Antonio Valencia is in line to return for United after he sat out the win at Palace through suspension, but Eric Bailly's participation is in doubt after he was substituted in the second half of Wednesday’s game with a knee problem, as mentioned by Mourinho in his post-match interview. Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw are all set to miss the Midlands trip but could return to play some part in the forthcoming festive fixtures. For West Brom, right-back Craig Dawson is likely to be back after a ban, while striker Saido Berahino has an outside chance of being involved after playing for their Under-23s in midweek – his first action since September. However, he’ll do well to displace top scorer Salomon Rondon, who netted a hat-trick of headers in Wednesday’s 3-1 defeat of Swansea, becoming only the second player in Premier League history to achieve that feat, after Duncan Ferguson managed it for Everton against Bolton Wanderers in December 1997.
How did we fare against the Baggies last season? Jesse Lingard scored his first senior goal in a 2-0 home win in November, with Juan Mata adding a late second from the penalty spot, but the Spaniard was sent off in March’s return fixture at The Hawthorns, which the Midlanders went on to win 1-0 through Rondon’s second-half strike.
I’m in the mood for some trivia… got anything? Both West Brom and United were formed in the same year – 1878 – by workers from local industries: a weighing scales factory (West Brom) and a railway depot (United). Something else? The Reds have scored a total of 99 league goals away at West Brom and you can find out which of our current squad is considered favourite to bag the 100th on Saturday by checking out Marathonbet’s latest odds on the game.
What have our players been saying? "They are playing really well. They’re a competitive team with strong defenders; it’s not easy to score against them. So for sure it’s going to be a difficult game." – David De Gea.
What are the other Premier League games this weekend? Of the sides above United in the table, only Chelsea are in action before the Reds; Antonio Conte’s side visit Crystal Palace in Saturday’s early kick-off. Manchester City entertain Arsenal in a big game on Sunday and Goodison Park hosts the Merseyside derby on Monday night.
Saturday 17 December (15:00 GMT unless stated)
Crystal Palace v Chelsea, 12:30
Middlesbrough v Swansea City
Stoke City v Leicester City
Sunderland v Watford
West Ham United v Hull City
Sunday 18 December (16:00 GMT unless stated)
Bournemouth v Southampton, 13:30
Manchester City v Arsenal
Tottenham Hotspur v Burnley
Monday 19 December
Everton v Liverpool, 20:00
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