Have Manchester United Turned a Corner?
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will take charge of his first game at Old Trafford as Manchester United host Huddersfield Town on Boxing Day. The Norwegian is sure to receive a great ovation at Old Trafford ahead of this game.
Manchester United start the weekend in 6th place in the table and have a positive goal difference. A win will not move them any higher but could see them close the gap on the top four, which has to be the main target this season.
Huddersfield are battling against the drop and have a real fight on their hands. They start Boxing Day in 19th place, with 10 points and only goal difference is keeping them off the bottom of the table.
Manchester United returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion at Cardiff City on Saturday as they thumped the Bluebirds 5-1 in Solskjaer’s first game as manager. It was a huge improvement over what we have seen previously from the Red Devils this season and it appears a weight has been lifted off the shoulders of the players.
The victory was easily Manchester United’s best performance of the campaign but they must continue that way at Old Trafford. Manchester United are unbeaten in their last six games at home but have won only three of those matches. They have been held by Crystal Palace and Arsenal recently and trends show they have kept just one clean sheet in their last eight on home soil.
Huddersfield suffered a 3-1 home defeat at home against fellow strugglers Southampton on the weekend. It was another home match which promised points for Huddersfield but failed to deliver and their players and manager are coming under increased pressure at the bottom of the table.
Having picked up wins over Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers, Huddersfield have suffered a big dip in form. Trends show they have lost each of their last five Premier League games, with three of those five defeats coming at home.
Away from home, Huddersfield have won just one of their eight Premier League games. Conceding goals has been a problem and the Terriers have kept just a single clean sheet in those eight matches and will need to improve defensively against a Manchester United team who look set to attack.
Team news and Manchester United are with the injured trio of Chris Smalling, Alexis Sanchez and Marcos Rojo. Solskjaer will be tempted to stick with the same starting XI from the win in Cardiff but there could be some rotation in the full-back and midfield positions.
Huddersfield are missing key midfielder Aaron Mooy and he joins Tom Smith, Daniel Williams, Jonathan Hogg and Abdelhamid Sabiri on the treatment table.
Manchester United fans will be looking forward to seeing their team in action following the win at Cardiff. Huddersfield will need to improve defensively and although they may score a goal in this game, Manchester United should come out on top.
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