Verdict: Both teams to score
Best Odds: 10/11
Bookmaker: Luckster
Seeking an essential boost on Thursday night, Manchester United will welcome Scottish giants Rangers to Old Trafford.
Manchester United
Starting with the hosts, while Manchester United might have mounted a last-gasp comeback against Southampton last week, the Red Devils came crashing back down to earth in a worrying fashion. Eventually falling to a 3-1 defeat at home against Brighton last weekend, Ruben Amorim made his frustrations abundantly clear. Although the former Sporting Lisbon boss might have only arrived at Old Trafford back in November, the Portuguese tactician has an almighty job on his hands in Manchester. g off 2024 with a 2-0 loss at the hands of Newcastle, United have clinched just a single win in 90 minuets from any of their previous eight appearances across all competitions. Continuing to show a string of defensive issues, the Premier League giants will have a huge amount of pressure on their shoulders here.
Manchester United Team News
Expected to leave Old Trafford before the January transfer window slams shut, Amorim has confirmed that Marcus Rashford will not feature here. Likewise, both still dealing with respective injury issues, the duo of Luke Shaw and Mason Mount will miss out on Thursday night.
Bagging a consolation strike against Brighton last weekend and now recording four goals since the start of December, Bruno Fernandes will lead out Amorim’s side. Left as an unused substitute against Brighton on Sunday afternoon, Lisandro Martinez should make a full return at the heart of United’s defence.
Rangers
As for the visitors, while Rangers might have already watched their Premiership title dreams go up in smoke, Philippe Clement’s side are enjoying a real flurry. Picking up some perfect momentum last weekend as they stormed their way to a routine 5-0 romp against Fraserburgh, the former Monaco boss will be relishing a trip to Old Trafford on Thursday night. Getting the New Year underway with an iconic 3-0 victory against arch-rivals Celtic, the Blues are unbeaten in each of their previous seven domestic appearances across all competitions. Laying down another marker earlier in the month as they secured a 3-0 win against Aberdeen, Rangers have also found a major clinical edge in the final third. In fact, Clement’s side have won their last three outings over the past fortnight by an aggregate score of 11-1.
Rangers Team News
Hospitalised last month following a reported internal bleeding in his leg, Rangers will once again be without former Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland here. Likewise, not featuring over the past month and still dealing with a muscle issue, Clement’s side are unable to call upon Scottish international defender John Souttar.
Making a first domestic start of 2025 last weekend, influential skipper James Tavernier should keep his spot at right-back. Now recording seven goals in his previous six appearances across all competitions, Morocco international Hamza Igamane will lead Rangers’ charge at Old Trafford.
Manchester United vs Rangers Key Factors to Consider
- Manchester United have recorded just a single victory from any of their previous eight appearances across all competitions within 90 minuets.
- The Red Devils have failed to muster a single clean sheet since a 4-0 victory against Everton back on December 1st.
- Rangers are unbeaten in all of their last seven appearances across all competitions.
- Manchester United have remarkably lost four of their previous five showdowns at Old Trafford.
- Each of Rangers’ last five matchups away from Ibrox have finished with both teams finding the net.
Conclusion
Eventually falling to a 3-1 drumming at home against Brighton last weekend, Manchester United will have a tremendous amount of pressure on their shoulders here. Remarkably losing four of their last five showdowns at Old Trafford, Thursday’s hosts are desperately seeking some kind of boost here. However, meeting a Rangers squad that do appear to have turned a real corner over the past month, the Scottish giants will be relishing a trip to Manchester in midweek. It should be highlighted, with Clement’s side seeing all of their last five straight away fixtures finish with both teams finding the net, we are expecting a similar outcome from Old Trafford.
Verdict: Both teams to score
Best Odds: 10/11
Bookmaker: Luckster
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