Manchester United vs Middlesbrough live: What time does it start, what TV channel is it on and where can I watch it?
A look ahead to the Premier League fixture at Old Trafford
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Your support makes all the difference.The master meets the apprentice at Old Trafford as Aitor Karanka and his Middlesbrough team travel to face Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United.
Karanka worked under Mourinho during his ill-fated three-year spell at Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013 and still considers the Portuguese to be “a real friend”.
Both men, however, will be hoping for three points, with the hosts looking to extend their Premier League winning streak to five games after Monday’s victory over Sunderland.
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It’s a big game for…
Victor Valdes: The Middlesbrough goalkeeper is going back to Old Trafford where he failed to get much game time under Louis Van Gaal. The Spaniard will be looking to prove to his former employers that he can still do a job between the sticks.
Best stat…
100: This will be the hundredth meeting between Manchester United and Middlesbrough with the former taking 50 wins, Middlesbrough 22 and the 27 other fixtures ending in draws.
Remember when...
Gaizka Mendieta scored the fourth goal in a remarkable 4-1 drubbing of United back in 2005, co-incidentally the last time Boro have triumphed over the Manchester club.
Player to watch…
Henrikh Mkhitaryan: The fan favourite has really impressed since being given more game time by Jose Mourinho. In his first game back from injury on Boxing Day he netted that ingenious scorpion kick in the closing moments. Boro will need to keep the Armenian playmaker quiet to quell any attacks from the hosts.
Past three meetings…
Manchester United 0 Middlesbrough 0 (Middlesbrough win on penalties), EFL Cup, October 2015
Middlesbrough 0 Manchester United 2 (Giggs, Park Ji Sung), Premier League, May 2009
Manchester United 1 (Berbatov) Middlesbrough 0, EFL Cup, December 2008
Form guide…
Manchester United: DWWWWW
Middlesbrough: DWLLWL
Vital information…
KICK-OFF TIME: 15:00, Saturday 31 December 2016
TV: Highlights on Match of the Day, BBC TWO – 10pm
Odds…
Manchester United to win: 2/7
Middlesbrough: 12/1
Draw: 5/1
GOAL! Georginio Wijnaldum
What a start for Liverpool! A goal from their first attack and it is a beauty. Lallana swings in a cross and Wihnaldum thumps a header from near the penalty spot past Bravo.
That goal is a big blow for Pep Guardiola but he may not be too worried just yet. City have looked composed on the ball and can certainly capitalise on Liverpool's nervy defence.
14 mins: City still with all the possession but no real thrust yet. Sterling is clattered by Lallana and the ball goes out for a throw-in. The home crowd enjoyed that one.
16 mins: Mane wins a corner for Liverpool after a charging run. City clear.
19 mins: Emre Can, brought in by Klopp to add steel to Liverpool's midfield, is having a very good game. The German is a bustling figure all over the pitch at the moment.
21 mins: Sterling hits a cross straight into the Kop. Cue laughter from Koppites. Then Liverpool attack but Lallana is caught offside.
24 mins: Great battle between Sterling and Firmino who twist and tangle on the ball in the corner and Liverpool win a throw. Sterling has been heavily involved for City in the opening 20 minutes,without doing an awful lot right.
25 mins: Liverpool swing in a free-kick and Bravo's punch is the most unconvincing you'll see all season. The ball goes almost straight up in the air but, thankfully for City, Liverpool can't capitalise.
27 mins: Another flowing move from Liverpool ends with Wijnaldum - sensing a second goal - shooting high and wide into the Anfield Road end. Liverpool on top.
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