Ipswich Town and Manchester United will aim to continue their recent upturn in form when they clash at Portman Road on Sunday.
Gameweek 12 of the 2024/25 Premier League season will continue on Sunday with two eye-catching fixtures. The action on the day will kick-start with the game between Southampton and Liverpool at St. Mary’s before the action ends with Ipswich Town vs Manchester United at Portman Road.
Ipswich Town might be in the thick of the relegation battle, but they have been the most impressive promoted team this season, even though they are two points behind Leicester City. The Tractor Boys have managed only one victory in the Premier top flight this term, with the win coming in Gameweek 11. That result lifted Kieran McKenna’s men out of the drop zone.
On the other hand, Manchester United have enjoyed an upturn in form in the last few weeks. Ruud van Nistelrooy enjoyed an unbeaten run as the interim manager before departing in the international break. Ruben Amorim has taken charge in recent days, and another cycle of optimism has begun at Old Trafford.
The most recent Premier League clash between Ipswich Town and Manchester United happened in 2002, with Ruud van Nistelrooy scoring the winner to seal a 1-0 win. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Ipswich Town
Kieran McKenna has several pressing injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Ipswich Town manager might be bereft of the services of as many as nine first-team players vs Manchester United on Tuesday.
Kalvin Phillips has served a suspension but might not return as he is recovering from a knock. In addition, Nathan Broadhead (groin), Wes Burns (knock), Jacob Greaves (thigh), Jack Taylor (unspecified) and Omari Hutchinson (foot) are touch-and-go. However, Janoi Donacien (ankle), Chiedozie Ogbene (achilles), and George Hirst (knee) remain on the sidelines.
Arijanet Muric will take his usual spot between the sticks, with Ipswich Town lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Manchester United on Sunday. The backline should feature Axel Tuanzebe, Dara O’Shea, Cameron Burgess, and Leif Davis, with the latter taking charge of creativity from the flanks.
As for the midfield unit, Samy Morsy and Jens Cajuste should pair up in the double pivot. The duo will look to keep things tight in the middle of the park and neutralise Bruno Fernandes. Omari Hutchinson might reprise the no. 10 role, with Ben Johnson and Sammie Szmodics completing the supporting cast for central striker Liam Delap.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Muric; Tuanzebe, O’Shea, Burgess, Davis; Morsy, Cajuste; Johnson, Hutchinson, Szmodics; Delap
Manchester United
Ruben Amorim has greeted positive updates on the team news front ahead of his first game as the Manchester United manager. However, many remain on the sidelines, and the Manchester United manager might be without six first-team players on Sunday.
Amorim is sweating over the fitness of Lisandro Martinez, who pulled out from Argentina’s squad due to back pain. However, the former Ajax defender might be fit enough to start on Sunday. Kobbie Mainoo should also be fit after recovering from a hamstring injury.
In addition, Leny Yoro (foot), Luke Shaw (calf), and Tyrell Malacia (hamstring) are closing in on returning from their long-term injury layoffs. Meanwhile, Harry Maguire (calf) and Victor Lindelof (groin) remain on the sidelines.
Andre Onana is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 3-4-3 formation vs Ipswich Town that will morph into a 3-4-2-1 in the offensive phase. Matthijs de Ligt, Jonny Evans, and Lisandro Martinez should form the central defensive unit.
Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui will continue on the flanks, with Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo pairing up in the middle of the park. Finally, Rasmus Hojlund will lead the line for Manchester United against Ipswich Town, with Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho completing the numbers in the offensive trifecta.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Onana; de Ligt, Evans, Martinez; Dalot, Ugarte, Mainoo, Mazraoui; Bruno Fernandes, Hojlund, Garnacho
Key Stats
- Ipswich Town’s most recent league win vs Manchester United was a 3-2 victory at Portman Road in September 1994. The Red Devils won four of the subsequent five top-flight meetings, conceding only once.
- A victory on Sunday will hand Ipswich Town consecutive top-flight victories for the first time since a run of four between January and February 2002. However, the Tractor Boys are the only side without a Premier League home victory this season (D3 L2).
- Manchester United have won only two of their last 13 away matches in all competitions (D6 L5), claiming top-flight victories at Brighton & Hove Albion in May and Southampton in September. However, the Red Devils are unbeaten in 19 league fixtures against newly-promoted opposition, including 17 victories, since a 4-1 loss at Watford in November 2021.
- Ipswich Town have mustered the fewest Premier League shots (108), shots on target (33) and touches in the opposition penalty area (199) this season.
- Liam Delap has scored six of Ipswich Town’s 12 league goals this season. Prior to the latest round of fixtures, he is one of three players to have scored at least half of his side’s goals, along with Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood.
Player to Watch
Bruno Fernandes
Erik ten Hag’s departure has galvanised several Manchester United players, but none more so than Bruno Fernandes. The Manchester United captain looked a pale shadow of his best self under the tutelage of the Dutch tactician, and he only showed flashes of his brilliance.
However, the Portuguese international has enjoyed an upturn in form in the last few games. Fernandes has made 137 passes that have broken the opposition’s offside line in the Premier League this season, 15 more than any other player. In addition, he has amassed four goals in as many games since Erik ten Hag departed from Old Trafford. The skipper will aim to continue that run under Ruben Amorim.
Prediction
Ipswich Town 1-3 Manchester United
Manchester United have appeared like a team reborn since Erik ten Hag lost his job, and the “new manager bounce” should continue to work its magic when Ruben Amorim takes charge of his first game this weekend. Facing a promoted club is the best thing the Portuguese tactician could have asked for ahead of his first game, which will come against Ipswich Town.
However, the Tractor Boys have shown incredible resilience this season, and those qualities should come to the fore again. The hosts should take the game to the away side, although that might not be good enough to deliver the three points.
Three of Manchester United’s six permanent managers in the Premier League have lost their first game in charge of the club in the competition: Sir Alex Ferguson, Louis van Gaal, and Erik ten Hag. Amorim should be the latest on that list, with Bruno Fernandes inspiring a 3-1 win for the away side.