Manchester United will look to arrest a woeful run of home form when they welcome relegation favourites Ipswich Town to Old Trafford in the Premier League on Wednesday.
Ipswich were thrashed again at the weekend, edging them closer towards an instant return to the Championship, while Man United were fortunate to leave Goodison Park with a point in a game against Everton mired in controversy.
Match preview
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On their final visit to Goodison Park early on Saturday, Man United fought back from 2-0 down to take a point off Everton, but were slightly fortunate to take anything from the match.
Another under-par performance from Ruben Amorim's men meant they had no complaints about being two goals down, and it could have been more before Bruno Fernandes fired them back into the game from a free kick.
Manuel Ugarte levelled the scoreline a few minutes later, before the Red Devils avoided punishment for a tug on the shirt of Ashley Young by both Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt, with referee Andy Madley overturning his initial decision with the aid of VAR despite not seeing all available angles.
Nevertheless, Man United remain behind Everton in the table despite the late fightback, and 16th-placed West Ham United moved level on points with them after their win at Arsenal.
The gap to the European places is now 12 points for Man United, meaning next season could be a rare one without any continental action, unless they can go on to win the FA Cup or the Europa League.
Attack has been the big problem with Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee still without a league goal in 2025, and the team is just one blank away from failing to score in 11 separate Premier League matches this season, which would be a new club record.
United have also only scored one first-half goal in their last 11 league games, and that came in a 3-1 defeat at Old Trafford to Brighton & Hove Albion, which was one of the five games Amorim has lost in seven at home in the Premier League since taking charge.
The hosts are now just two defeats away from equalling their highest league tally in over six decades, but they are unbeaten in eight against Ipswich here, despite last playing them back in 2015.
That was in a League Cup third round tie, with the last league meeting coming back in 2001, just a few years after United famously set a Premier League record margin of victory when thrashing Ipswich 9-0 in 1995 - a feat that has been matched, but still not beaten.
Ipswich's last win at Old Trafford came in 1984, coming from behind to win 2-1, and that astonishingly remains the last time Man United lost a league game at home after leading at half time, avoiding defeat in the 388 instances since.
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Kieran McKenna's men need a repeat if they are to revive hopes of survival, after relegation fears intensified over the weekend following a 4-1 loss at home to Tottenham Hotspur.
Wolves' win at Bournemouth means the gap between those in the bottom three and safety is now five points, with the three promoted sides now expected to make a swift return back to the second tier.
Ipswich are the only team in the division without a win in their last six matches, while their only point came in a shock draw at Aston Villa just over a week ago, despite playing more than half of the game with 10 men.
The Tractor Boys have won more points on the road (10) than they have at Portman Road (seven) this season, though, so the visitors may be quietly glad that they are away in this one.
Only Southampton have taken fewer home points than Ipswich in England's top-four divisions, while only the Saints, Morecambe and Shrewsbury Town have lost more often, but McKenna's men did earn a point when they faced United at home in the reverse fixture - which just so happened to be Amorim's first game in charge.
Team News
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After naming eight teenagers on the bench against Spurs, Amorim had more senior players available to him at Everton, with Ugarte, Leny Yoro and Christian Eriksen all returning.
Toby Collyer should not be too far away either, but there will be no return just yet for the likes of Mason Mount, Kobbie Mainoo or Luke Shaw.
Important first-team players Amad Diallo and Lisandro Martinez will miss the rest of the season, but the injury to the former may hand more opportunities to Chido Obi, who was a real presence when brought off the bench at Goodison.
More Ipswich players were added to their growing injury list at the weekend, with Kalvin Phillips and Jens Cajuste both forced off with calf and ankle injuries, respectively.
Wes Burns is out for the season with a knee injury, but Conor Chaplin could be back in time for this one from a more minor problem in the same area, while Sam Morsy and Sammie Szmodics returned from setbacks at the weekend, and made the bench.
Former Man United defender Axel Tuanzebe is back after suspension, and may come in for Ben Godfrey, who struggled against Spurs and was subbed off during the interval.
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Onana; Yoro, De Ligt, Maguire; Dalot, Casemiro, Ugarte, Dorgu; Zirkzee, Obi, Fernandes
Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:
Palmer; Tuanzebe, O'Shea, Greaves, Davis; Morsy, Cajuste; Philogene, Hutchinson, Szmodics; Delap
We say: Manchester United 3-2 Ipswich Town
Man United flattered to deceive once again at the weekend, and their form is even worse at home, but this would be the biggest shock yet against a club destined for the drop, and Amorim's men should have just enough.
Ipswich have only kept one clean sheet on the road this season, and that came in a goalless draw with Brighton early in the campaign, so they will need to have their shooting boots on if they are to have any chance in this one, and even then it may not be enough for the Tractor Boys.
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Andrew Delaney
