Manchester Utd vs. West Brom: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
Now that Louis van Gaal's side have ended their scoring drought, will Manchester United versus West Bromwich Albion see them put Tony Pulis' side to the sword?
Or will Pulis' men be able to succeed in frustrating the agitated Old Trafford crowd?
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This fixture last season saw Van Gaal's side struggle to make the breakthrough and get sucker-punched by a West Brom set piece. The Dutchman ended that game with Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie in midfield behind Marouane Fellaini at centre-forward.
It was a ploy that did not work in a game that counts among those in which Van Gaal's United have played less than scintillating football.
This time around, all eyes and ears will be on the crowd. They reacted angrily to the United manager's decision to take Anthony Martial off against CSKA Moscow and peppered their supportive chants by urging to the team to attack.
Van Gaal addressed the matter in his pre-match press conference, urging supporters to boo him rather than the players. Of course, that is whom the fans were booing on Tuesday night.
It is clear Van Gaal's approach is not winning him many friends at the moment.
However, before their recent relatively dry spell, United were scoring freely, and West Brom have conceded three goals in half of their last six games—albeit one of those games was in the League Cup. If United can take confidence from their midweek win over CSKA and West Brom are not at their best defensively, this could be the game where United's attack looks a little more dynamic.
For Pulis, this game represents something of a free hit. Few will be expecting his side to get a result, although as the last two seasons have proved, it is certainly possible they will.
Date: Saturday, November 6, 2015
Time: 3:00 p.m. GMT / 10:00 a.m. ET
Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester, England
TV Info: NBCSN and NBC Universo (U.S. Only)
Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S. Only)
Form Lines
Manchester United: WDDDDW
West Bromwich Albion: LLLWWL
Team News
Van Gaal, speaking to MUTV (h/t the club's website), said ahead of this one:
"There are no injuries, only illnesses. Morgan Schneiderlin was ill. He shall train today for the first time so we have to wait and see. I cannot say there are a lot of changes for this game. Matteo Darmian is suspended so he cannot play and [Antonio] Valencia is injured. I think he shall be operated on but I have to wait and see if that is true.
"
Paddy McNair remains injured, and James Wilson is reportedly a doubt, per Jamie Jackson in the Guardian.
Van Gaal gave an update on the fitness of Luke Shaw, who is recovering from a broken leg, in Tuesday's United Review (h/t the club's website again), saying:
"Luke is progressing well and is doing as well as we could have hoped at this stage. We are not putting any timings on his recovery or a return, as it is important that we allow nature to take its course.
Luke is working hard during his recuperation to keep his body in the best possible condition. He is receiving plenty of messages of encouragement from supporters, which I know that he appreciates.
"
For West Brom, former United man Ben Foster remains a long-term absentee and James Morrison is a doubt, per Jackson.
Predicted Lineups
The same lineup that faced CSKA Moscow could well be on show on Saturday. If Schneiderlin is fit, there is a chance he could be preferred to Michael Carrick or Bastian Schweinsteiger. Van Gaal showed little sign of being prepared to drop Wayne Rooney prior to his goal against CSKA, so surely the captain will retain his place.
There is a chance Ander Herrera could feature in place of Anthony Martial, given Van Gaal's decision to remove Martial from the game against CSKA with Rooney shifted further forward, but that seems unlikely. Of course, the manager could also spring a surprise.
Pulis' team selections have been reasonably consistent of late, and the above team seems likely to be the lineup he will select again.
Players to Watch
For United, Rooney's goal against Moscow will raise the question of whether his form will now pick up. Was he suffering from a lack of confidence, or is there a more permanent problem? If he can make a decisive impact for the second game in a row, his critics will have to ease up, at least temporarily.
Salomon Rondon has two goals in his last two games for the Baggies, and he and Saido Berahino have three league goals apiece this season. Berahino gave United a tough time at the Hawthorns last season, and Rondon adds a different kind of threat to Albion's front line. They are a potentially effective combination, and United will have to be wary of the counter-attack.
Key Battle
The key battles in fixtures involving Manchester United have become tiresomely predictable, and Saturday's game is likely to be no exception. United will dominate possession, and the opposition will sit deep and attempt to hit United on the counter. It seems remarkably unlikely that Pulis' side will part with that strategy.
Thus, the key battle will involve United old boys Darren Fletcher and Jonny Evans and the rest of West Brom's defensive unit as they look to shut United's possession-hungry, ultra-patient build-up play down.
Odds
Manchester United: 7/20
Draw: 427/100
West Bromwich Albion: 11/1
Odds for the game correct at the time of writing, per Odds Shark.
