Buoyed by securing Champions League qualification, Manchester United head to Wearside to face out-of-form Sunderland this Saturday, looking to maintain their rich vein of form.
Michael Carrick’s side pulled off a pivotal 3-2 home win over eternal rivals Liverpool last weekend, courtesy of Kobbie Mainoo’s late winner, and will be dining at Europe’s top table next season.
Seeking only their third top-three finish in the Premier League since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure, the Red Devils seem to be in a prime position to pounce on Sunderland’s downfall.
With Carrick increasingly heading towards a permanent contract, which has not become a matter of ‘when rather than if,’ United are keen to end the season on a strong note.
However, they cannot afford to take anything for granted at the Stadium of Light, as European hopefuls Sunderland must take three points here to maintain their faint top-seven hopes.
Sitting four points adrift of seventh-placed Brentford ahead of the final three rounds of fixtures, Regis Le Bris’ charges have to bounce back from a three-game winless league run if they’re to stay relevant in the top-seven picture.
Up the creek without a paddle
Last weekend’s frustrating 1-1 draw against dead-last Wolverhampton Wanderers merely served to end Sunderland’s two-game losing league streak, yet their season is at risk of fizzling out.
After going unbeaten in their first 12 home league matches this season (W7, D5), the Black Cats have suffered four defeats across their last five outings at the Stadium of Light (W1).
Le Bris’ men are hardly in a good position to stem the bleeding, knowing they have won none of their last 28 Premier League clashes against sides starting the day in the top four (D9, L19).
Adding to this sentiment, they have lost more games to Man Utd (24) than against any other team they’ve faced in the Premier League, including a 2-0 defeat in October’s reverse fixture at Old Trafford.
It’s difficult to imagine Sunderland avenging that result here, as they’ve won just one of their 15 previous home meetings with the Red Devils in this competition (D4, L10).
Resurgent giants
Man Utd’s renaissance under Carrick has been remarkable, with no other Premier League team picking up more points than United’s 32 since his appointment in January.
Then it’s little wonder that the Red Devils are considering handing the 44-year-old a permanent deal at the end of the season amid speculation linking Julian Naglesmann with the Theatre of Dreams job.
Winning back-to-back away league matches for only the second time all season would further solidify Carrick’s position in the dugout, and the visitors’ scoring form points in that direction.
United’s current 23-match scoring streak in the Premier League is the second longest in the club’s history, but it’s worth noting that they’ve scored more than once in just one of their last five league games on the road.
On that basis, defensive resilience could be key, yet Carrick’s men have kept just two clean sheets across their 17 away league matches this term, winning both those clashes by an identical 1-0 scoreline.
Team News
Except for long-term absentee Matthijs de Ligt, Carrick should have the remainder of his defence at his disposal, as Lisandro Martinez returns to the fold after serving a one-game ban at Anfield.
However, in-form striker Benjamin Sesko has emerged as a major doubt for this trip after suffering a heavy blow to the shin against Liverpool, forcing him off at half-time.
With Sesko likely to miss Saturday’s clash in Wearside, Carrick opened the door for players who have seen limited action this season to step up and make their case.
Should the Slovenian star fail to recover in time, Matheus Cunha could lead the line this weekend, potentially opening space for Patrick Dorgu to make his first Premier League start since January.
How Man Utd could line up
(4-2-3-1): Lammens; Dalot; Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Mainoo, Casemiro; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Dorgu; Cunha.