Manchester United vs Sunderland at Old Trafford today. On paper, this is the easiest game MUFC have faced at home so far this season.
However, Sunderland have looked to have turned a new corner after a very strong month. They played four games in October, winning at Bolton with an impressive display, coming from behind twice against Aston Villa and West Brom to draw and showing incredible fight in a 2-1 defeat at the Emirates.
The Black Cats manager has a good relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson who has this week reached 25 years as Manchester United manager. Steve Bruce has loaned quite a few players from his ex manager such as Jonny Evans and most recently Danny Welbeck.
Both have been playing regularly this season, and proved their loan spells at Sunderland were beneficial. Bruce has always had an eye on MUFC’s players and has signed many of them over the years. He has signed players such as Phil Bardsley, Kieran Richardson, Frazier Campbell, John O’Shea and also Wes Brown.
Moving on to Manchester United injury news, Tom Cleverley, Ashley Young and Chris Smalling all look set to miss out while Anderson, Patrice Evra and Michael Carrick are rated as doubtful for the game.
Nemanja Vidic returns for the Reds after missing out the midweek Champions League game through suspension. The skipper kept a solid clean sheet at Goodison last week on his return to the first side and will look for another clean sheet this afternoon.
United have recovered from their 6-1 drubbing from leaders Man City by winning three games on the trot without conceding a goal in all competitions. The reds need to be wary of the lively teenager Connor Wickham, the confident Nicklas Bendtner, the sharp Sessesgnon and the creative Seb Larsson.
I predict a win for United in the end without to many scares. Sunderland will come out fighting, but eventually will lose steam and United will take control. I predict a 3-0 win and this is my team:
De Gea, Jones, Evans, Vidic, Fabio, Nani, Valencia, Fletcher, Rooney, Welbeck and Berbatov.
