Manchester Utd V Sunderland: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info

Manchester United versus Sunderland gives Louis van Gaal and Dick Advocaat a chance to cross managerial swords once again.

Old friends, and compatriots, in his pre-match press conference, Van Gaal said of Advocaat, "I sympathise with him. I hope Sunderland win every game—apart from us," per United's Twitter account. Sympathies for United old boys John O'Shea and Wesley Brown will also have to be set aside as Van Gaal looks to build on United's recent back-to-back wins. 

Advocaat returned Van Gaal's kind words, per Sky Sports: 

"

He's one of the best coaches in the world, no doubt about that. He has worked at the highest levels in Europe.

He is a manager who does not just look for the easy way, he is always looking for the most difficult way. If you see his prize list, it is unbelievable, so I rate him very highly

"

Sunderland sit bottom of the Premier League. Their only win so far this season came against Exeter City in the second round of the League Cup. The best they have managed in the league is drawing with Aston Villa and Swansea City. 

This game seems unlikely to seal Advocaat's fate, but an upset would ease some of the pressure that has been mounting on him. For Van Gaal, anything other than a win here would be a huge missed opportunity. 

Date: Saturday, 26 September

Time: 3 p.m. BST / 10 a.m. ET

Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester

TV Info: NBC Sports (U.S. Only)

Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S. Only)

Form Lines

Manchester United: WLWLWW

Sunderland:  DWDLLL

Team News

United have a fairly big problem with the left side of their defence. Luke Shaw is, of course, a long-term absentee, and Van Gaal has told MUTV (h/t the club's website) that Marcos Rojo and Paddy McNair are both injured. If Phil Jones is ready for first-team action, he could partner Chris Smalling in the heart of United's defence with Daley Blind moving to left-back.

Alternatively, Ashley Young could repeat the job he did against Ipswich Town on Wednesday night. 

Sunderland's website quoted Advocaat as saying, "Jack Rodwell is a doubt. Jermain Defoe has some problems with his hamstring but I think he will be available, and Adam Matthews is still out."

Predicted Lineups

Assuming Jones slots in alongside Smalling and Blind moves to the left, the big decisions for Van Gaal are in midfield. If Sunderland plump for a midfield featuring Yann M'Vila and Lee Cattermole, then the physical presence of Morgan Schneiderlin could be helpful.

Bastian Schweinsteiger played 90 minutes against Ispwich, and with the Champions League game against Wolfsburg coming up, he could be rested for the start of this one. Michael Carrick could also be in contention here. However, the line-up above chooses Ander Herrera, as Carrick and Schweinsteiger would then be set for a European start.

Up front, there remains the possibility that Anthony Martial could be rested, but that would be a tremendous disappointment to United fans hoping to see him in action again. There is also the possibility Antonio Valencia will retain the right-back spot, having been brought on for Darmian at half-time against Southampton and kept the place against Ipswich.

However, with defensive resources spread thinly, bringing the natural right-back into the side would seem a wise move.

The movement of Martial and Memphis Depay could see Advocaat elect to play Sebastian Coates over the experienced but perhaps less mobile partnership of Younes Kaboul and John O'Shea. O'Shea could be selected here as a result of the years he spent with United—both in terms of playing at Old Trafford and for his big-game nous.

At left-back, Advocaat has conceded that DeAndre Yedlin could provide competition for misfiring Patrick van Aanholt, per the Sunderland Echo:

"

Yedlin definitely did well, to be fair to him [at right-back against Manchester City]. I gave him the chance and he did well, which is good to know. He was not a regular with his team, but he showed his commitment which was good. But I cannot take Jones out because in the previous two games, he was the best player. Now our left-back also has a bit of competition.

We can always put one player [of Yedlin or Jones] to the left side, which is a good option.

"

Elsewhere, the creativity of Jordi Gomez could be preferred to the industry of Cattermole in the centre of the park, and if Jermain Defoe is not fit to play, then Fabio Borini, Steven Fletcher or Danny Graham could get a game. Borini could also be preferred to one of the three behind the striker, though the above line-up seems a decent bet.

Players to Watch 

Martial is the man of the moment for United, so assuming he plays, he will be well worth watching. Wayne Rooney took his goal well against Ipswich, and United fans will be hoping he opens his Premier League account for the season on Saturday. 

Jon Super/Associated Press/Associated Press

United's vulnerability could be in their reshaped back four, although David De Gea was in spectacular form against Southampton.

While Sunderland have undoubtedly struggled, they do have players who can damage United if the Red Devils get complacent. Adam Johnson, M'Vila, Jeremain Lens and Ola Toivonen are all averaging a key pass per league game or better, per WhoScored.com so the likelihood is they will create chances.

Key Battle

Assuming recent history is any guide, the key battle will be United's struggle to turn possession into goals and avoid conceding in those relatively rare moments when they do not have the ball. With nine goals in their last three domestic games, the worst of United's bluntness seems over, largely thanks to the remarkable impact of Martial. 

Sunderland's centre-backs will have to be at their best to contain the red-hot youngster, and United have plenty of players who can capitalise on any space he creates for them.

Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

On the counter-attack, the pace of Johnson could be an issue for Blind if he is played at left-back, meaning that could be an area in which Sunderland get some joy.

Odds

The following are the odds for the game, at the time of writing, per Odds Shark.

Manchester United Win: 25/108

Draw: 13/2

Sunderland Win: 15/1