Manchester United will be taking on Ipswich Town in the third round fixture of the English League Cup at the Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Ipswich Town have made a good start to their English League Cup campaign and the Red Devils can expect a tough challenge from the Tractor Boys in the third round game.
Ipswich coach Mick McCarthy has struggled against the 20-time English Premier League champions every time he has faced them in his managerial career. Out of eight times, he has suffered defeat seven times, managing to win a solitary game.
"I am looking forward to Old Trafford. I haven't had too many results there, probably none, and it is still a special place. It is one of the best clubs in the world with an amazing stadium to play at. Of course, it is almost impossible to try to blank that out," McCarthy told reporters.
The last time these two sides played against each other was in the 2001-2002 season. United won 4-0 at the Old Trafford and also went on to win 1-0 at the Portland Road.The two sides have not played against each other in the last 14 years.
It will definitely be a tough ask for Ipswich to come to Old Trafford and defeat Louis Van Gaal's men in red on Wednesday but one can be rest assured it will not be easy for United either.
United made an early exit from the English League Cup last season after they were handed a humiliating 0-4 defeat by the second division outfit MK Dons. Van Gaal will not be able to forget the loss and would not want to take any oponent lightly this year.
United are coming into the match after an inspiring 3-2 win over Southampton last weekend. The new 'expensive' kid on the block, Anthony Martial, scored a brace and was adjudged man of the match. All eyes will be on him as he is likely to make a start in Wednesday's game. Wayne Rooney's form will be a concern for Van Gaal as he has went goalless in 12 EPL games this year.
"With that amount of passes you control the game but we are not playing a possession game only to control the match. I have said to the players that gaps in the opponents organisation exist. We did it [against Southampton] and it is confirmation of our philosophy. So as a coach I am happy and the members of my staff are happy and at the end so are the players," Van Gaal told reporters ahead of their League Cup fixture.
Rooney is likely to play his favourite No. 10 position right behind Martial and these two will be ably backed by Juan Mata, Memphis Depay and Ander Herrera/Michael Carrick/Morgan Schneiderlin/Bastian Schweinsteiger in the midfield.
Paddy McNair and James Wilson have suffered minor injuries, as a result they will be sidelined. Phil Jones might just make his first appearance for the Red Devils in this season as he has recovered from his illness.
"Marcos Rojo is not ready to play. Neither is Paddy McNair, who is also injured. It's not so nice that we have three defenders injured but I can line up 11 players so that is not the problem. I thought we were right on time for Rojo because we changed him in the game and he didn't warn us that he was injured. He has a hamstring injury and Paddy McNair has a minor injury.
"I have to admit that (Jones returns) because of the injury of three defenders, I shall have him on the bench but he is not fit, maybe he can play 30 minutes, he is a lucky boy that I don't have other substitutes," Van Gaal was quoted as saying by Manchester Evening News.
Expected Lineups:
Man United : Romero; Valencia, Jones, Blind, Rojo; Carrick, Schneiderlin, Mata, Memphis, Rooney; Martial.
Ipswich Town: Gerken; Chambers, Smith, Berra, Knudsen; Skuse, Bru, Fraser, Maitland-Niles; Pitman, Sears.
Where to watch live:
Get the Match Highlights and goals HERE
Manchester United vs Ipswich Town is scheduled for a 12.30 am IST (8.00 pm BST, 3 pm ET) start. Live coverage and live streaming in India is not available.
Viewers in the UK can stream the League Cup third round match between Manchester United vs Ipswich Town live on MUTV Online.
Audience in the US can stream the match between Manchester United vs Ipswich Town on Bein Sports Connect.
Viewers in Africa will be able to catch the League Cup third round match live on SuperSport 6. While audience in the middle east tune into BeIn Sports Connect 10 HD.
