Manchester United vs. West Brom: Team News, Preview, Live Stream and TV Info

Manchester United will hope to take a step closer to the top four when they host West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Saturday. The Red Devils are four points off a UEFA Champions League place, but they could be further behind by the time they kick-off if bitter rivals Liverpool beat Everton in the Merseyside derby earlier in the day.

United are in form, but the Baggies will also enter the game with some momentum after comfortably beating Arsenal 3-1 last time out in the league. The visitors will be buoyed by facing what could be a depleted squad, with United set to be without suspended duo Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ander Herrera.

Here are the schedule and viewing details before a preview and look at the team news:

Date: Saturday, April 1

Time: 3 p.m. BST. 10 a.m. ET.

TV: NBCSN

Live Stream: NBC Sports App.

Preview

United's ranks are likely to be thinned, with as many as six senior stars possibly all missing out. Ibrahimovic and Herrera will both certainly be unavailable as they continue to serve bans.

However, James Phillips of the Daily Star also detailed the doubts concerning four other key players: "Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ander Herrera are suspended while Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini all have injury problems."

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Mourinho has since confirmed England defenders Chris Smalling and Phil Jones are out, while doubting whether world-record signing Paul Pogba will be available, per an interview with Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday (h/t Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News): "So we lose four, and I think Paul Pogba is also out. So we lose five. So we are in a bit of trouble."

Mourinho's remedy to the problems in his squad will likely be to replace brawn with pace and ingenuity. The former quality can come from Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford.

Any member of that trio could stretch West Brom's well-drilled but plodding back four. However, Arsenal tried a similar approach to get Alexis Sanchez, Danny Welbeck and Theo Walcott in behind.

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Yet the Gunners' plan didn't work because the Baggies sat deep and packed midfield to deny spaces between the lines for through passes. A packed midfield may also frustrate the guile, technique and vision of United maestros Juan Mata and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

As usual, West Brom's primary threat will come from set pieces. One of the more dangerous defenders from set pieces is centre-back Gareth McAuley, who has agreed a new one-year deal

McAuley is the most prolific centre-back in England's top flight after finding the net seven times this season. McAuley, former United defender Jonny Evans and Craig Dawson, a two-goal hero against Arsenal, will frustrate United at both ends of the pitch.

West Brom have a mode of playing suited to making life difficult for the Premier League's biggest teams. However, United have been in the groove for a while on Mourinho's watch, having put together an unbeaten run stretching over five months, per Jamie Jackson of the Guardian.

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Expect the Red Devils to find a way to keep their run going and apply more pressure in the race for a top-four finish.