Ipswich vs Manchester United LIVE: Premier League latest as Rashford scores two minutes into Amorim’s debut
The Portuguese manager hopes to lead the Red Devils in a new direction in his first game in charge
Ipswich host Manchester United in Sunday’s late Premier League kick off as Ruben Amoriom takes charge of his first game since making the move to Old Trafford.
The Portuguese coach was appointed following the sacking of Erik ten Hag and should benefit from Ruud van Nistelrooy’s steadying interim period which saw the team win three of their last four games across all competitions.
Work still needs to be done though as United sit 13th though the gap between them and a top four spot is just four points. Amorim has been drilling the squad in his preferred 3-4-3 system so expect a new look formation when the teams take to the pitch today.
As for Ispwisch, they also want to improve their position after securing their first league win of the season in a 2-1 victory over Tottenham. Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna was an assistant coach at United and will hope to get one over his old club this afternoon.
Follow all the action with our live blog below:
Ipswich 0-1 Manchester United
4 mins
Barely any time to get settled, but it’s 1-0 at Portman Road. It was a scrappy first minute or so, but United have got themselves ahead thanks mainly to brilliant work from Amad Diallo.
The home side are enjoying some possession now though as they look to get back into it, and they win a corner.
GOAL! Ipswich 0-1 Manchester United
2 mins
GOAL! Well, not a bad start. United are ahead just after the minute mark!
It’s all about the wing-back play too, with Amad receiving the one-two pass in his own half and driving past a couple of challenges all the way into the Ipswich box. He cuts it back to Rashford, and the number nine manages to bundle it in at the near post!
KICK-OFF! Ipswich 0-0 Manchester United
KICK-OFF!
The home side get us underway at Portman Road.
Ipswich vs Manchester United LIVE
Both sides are emerging from the tunnel now, so we’ll be underway soon!
Ipswich vs Manchester United LIVE
Unsurprisingly, much of the pre-match focus is on how United will line up.
Videos from the warm-up seem to suggest that it’ll be a back five, with Amad Diallo at right wing-back and Dalot on the left.
Ipswich vs Manchester United LIVE
Match facts
This will be Rúben Amorim’s first match in charge of Manchester United. Aged 39 years and 302 days on the day of this game, he’s the youngest to take charge of his first match for the Red Devils since Wilf McGuinness in August 1969 (31y 288d).
Manchester United have won 17 of their last 19 Premier League games against newly promoted opponents (D2) since a 4-1 loss at Watford in November 2021. Away from home, they have won their last nine league games at promoted sides; in English top-flight history, only Chelsea have won 10+ away matches in succession against such opponents (21 in a row from October 2002 to November 2008).
Alejandro Garnacho has been directly involved in 20 Premier League goals for Manchester United (13 goals, 7 assists), one of only two non-British players to reach that figure for the Red Devils before turning 21, along with Cristiano Ronaldo (25 – 14 goals, 11 assists).
Match facts
Ipswich have lost four of their last five Premier League games against Man Utd (D1), failing to score in each defeat. This is their first such meeting since a 1-0 home loss in April 2002.
They are looking to earn back-to-back wins in the Premier League for the first time since February 2002 (a run of four that started with a 2-1 win against Tottenham).
Ipswich are the only side without a home win in the Premier League this season (P5 D3 L2). Only five newly promoted sides have failed to win their opening six home matches of a Premier League campaign, all of which went on to be relegated: Swindon Town in 1993/94, Crystal Palace in 1997/98, Norwich City in 2004/05, Sunderland in 2005/06, and Burnley in 2023/24.
Head-to-head
These two sides have met 51 times in the past, though not since 2015, when United won 3-0 in an FA Cup tie.
The last time the two sides met in the league was in 2002, when United ran out 1-0 winners thanks to a penalty from Ruud Van Nistelrooy.
Overall, United have won 25 meetings, Ipswich have won 17, and nine have ended as draws.
McKenna: “I think we have enough depth to be competitive"
In his pre-match press conference, Kieran McKenna said that he thinks that his side “ have enough depth at the moment to be competitive in the match”.
“We are going to put out the team we think gives us the best chance to win the game.
“We will have some good options and hopefully if we can get a few players back in the next week or so we will have a strong squad available for a busy run of games.
“We’ve had the balance of a little bit of rest – because we know it is a busier spell coming up now right through until the March international fixtures – but also some good preparation time. Preparation time that has been important with the team we are facing next under new management.
“It’s been about getting them focused and ready for a big performance on Sunday.”
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