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Kick off is at 3.00pm.
🎥 the #HTAFC players and coaching staff have arrived at Old Trafford (AT) pic.twitter.com/K50nMxeCyw
— Huddersfield Town (@htafcdotcom) February 3, 2018
Let’s get started with some team news…
TEAM NEWS with @ViessmannUK: #htafc Head Coach David Wagner has made three changes to his starting line-up for today’s @premierleague match against @ManUtd at Old Trafford.
— Huddersfield Town (@htafcdotcom) February 3, 2018
➡️ Tommy Smith, @vanlaparra17 and @CollinQuaner
⬅️ @AaronMooy, Chris Löwe and Steve Mounié (AT) pic.twitter.com/6BCJ7iwbUQ
#MUFC's starting line-up for #MUNHUD is in... pic.twitter.com/UTYTd83BCT
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 3, 2018
So, today’s teams are:
Man United: De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Rojo, Shaw, Matic, McTominay, Mata, Lingard, Alexis, Lukaku
Subs: Romero, Lindelof, Young, Carrick, Pogba, Martial, Rashford
Huddersfield Town: Lössil, Smith, Kongolo, Hogg, Billing, Van La Parra, Depoitre, Quaner, Zanka, Schindler, Hadergjonaj
Subs: Coleman, Malone, Mooy, Pritchard, Ince, Mounie, Hefele
Today's #UnitedReview contains a poster of the last line-up of the Busby Babes from 5 February 1958. Fans at the game are invited to hold it up during the minute's silence as we pay our respects to those we lost in the Munich Air Disaster. pic.twitter.com/oov86RwYSw
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 3, 2018
So then, how do we see this one going? Remember Huddersfield were the first team to inflict a defeat on Man United in the Premier League this season when they came out 2-1 winners back in October.
Since then David Wagner’s side have kept their heads just above water in terms of the bottom three, currently sitting 17th and one point above the drop after a comprehensive 3-0 defeat to Liverpool midweek.
Jose Mourinho’s side also tasted defeat on Wednesday as Spurs came away 2-0 winners at Wembley, scoring after just 11 seconds via Christian Eriksen before Phil Jones doubled the hosts’ lead.
The United boss will be conscious of keeping hold of second spot and not allowing Liverpool and Chelsea gain any ground inside the top four.
Alexis Sanchez will be an added boost until the end of the season as they battle on three fronts across the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup, but he failed to impress on his league debut in London three days ago.
Can Huddersfield get another positive result against United this afternoon?
🎥 @Andrew10dog runs the players through a quick passing drill (AT) pic.twitter.com/08Uxn9DoPq
— Huddersfield Town (@htafcdotcom) February 3, 2018
Supporters gathered outside Old Trafford this afternoon to mark the 60th anniversary of the Munich air disaster.
Kick-off: We’re underway at Old Trafford…
Now then, we’re up and running. A technical error on our end saw us out of action for the last while but we’re back to business again — apologies!
United have huffed and puffed in the meantime but failed to break the deadlock. There was a shout for a penalty after Kongolo collided with Scott McTominay inside the area, however they went unheard.
Jesse Lingard has been instrumental up front in the opening 20 minutes but it remains scoreless as challenges fly in left and right and the temperature rises inside Old Trafford.
23' - Billing is shown a yellow card for a rash challenge on Rojo. #MUFC #MUNHUD
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 3, 2018
Chance! Alexis Sanchez is denied his first goal for his new club with a brilliant snapshot.
It was some lovely, patient build-up play on the edge of the penalty area before the former Arsenal man stung the palms of Lössl with a powerful low effort from range.
Close, but no cigar for Sanchez.
27' - So close to a first #MUFC goal for @Alexis_Sanchez! He skips past a defender and arrows an effort towards goal which Lossl does well to turn away. Meanwhile, @JuanMata8 is booked for a foul on Quaner. #MUNHUD
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 3, 2018
Brilliant defending from Terence Kongolo there as United looked to break down a resolute Huddersfield backline.
There were all sort of passes — long, short, low, high, over-the-top — but the defender jumped high and mighty to head the ball clear and eventually force a goal kick.
David Wagner’s side continue to frustrate.
Sanchez bursts with speed and adrenaline right through the heart of the Huddersfield midfield, however van La Parra makes up the ground to stop the Chilean dead in his tracks when his side were on the back foot and vulnerable.
Substitution for Huddersfield: Aaron Mooy replaces Philip Billing.
33' #mufc 0-0 #htafc: @BillingPhilip is replaced by @AaronMooy (AT)
— Huddersfield Town (@htafcdotcom) February 3, 2018
The away supporters raise their voices as Huddersfield force a corner. Florent Hadergjonaj fires a cross in low and dangerous, however Laurent Depoitre fouls Matic in the area to concede a free out which David de Gea will take and end the danger.
Chris Smalling comes close to breaking the deadlock as he finds space at the back post. He manages to produce another save from Lössl but it doesn’t matter as the England defender is flagged offside.
Another decent chances comes Depoitre’s way after some steady build-up play along the right wing. He tries a header at the near post and succeeds in forcing a corner off Chris Smalling.
There will be two minutes of additional time to come at the end of the first half.
Alexis Sanchez finds himself in the referee’s book — he is given a yellow card for a late challenge on Hadergjonaj. That should be it for the first 45 minutes.
HALF-TIME: MAN UNITED 0-0 HUDDERSFIELD
HT: #MUFC 0 Huddersfield 0.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 3, 2018
A frustrating first half for the Reds at Old Trafford. pic.twitter.com/cUyECBnXib
SECOND-HALF: We’re back underway for another 45 minutes at Old Trafford…
A first sight at goal for Alexis Sanchez, however his shot is blocked down first time after a free-kick into the penalty area caused some momentary panic from the visitors.
Another shot at goal for Sanchez as the ball drops to his feet right on the edge of the area. His effort is powerful but has too much flight on it, as it flies over the top of the crossbar.
It was a robust opening half in Manchester but we remain scoreless.
GOAL! MAN UNITED 1-0 HUDDERSFIELD (LUKAKU 55)
And at last we have a goal! It was coming for quite a while for United as they continued to apply pressure right from tip-off in the second half.
It’s an expert cross directed towards the front post from Juan Mata and Romelu Lukaku is there to steer the ball past Lössl brilliantly.
A superb cross from @JuanMata8 found #MUFC's top scorer in the area, and he netted a terrific left-footed volley! Get in! pic.twitter.com/x7ugGVGqJM
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 3, 2018
He has been under pressure over the last number of months for not being as prolific as expected in front of goal, but with that Romelu Lukaku has bagged his 12th Premier League goal of the season. Not as bad as his critics would have you believe.
Romelu Lukaku has now been directly involved in 6 goals in his last 6 games for Man United in all competitions:
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) February 3, 2018
4 goals ⚽️
2 assists 🅰️
Deadlock broken. pic.twitter.com/2QVkBwRKIS
Substitution for Man United: Paul Pogba replaces Jesse Lingard.
65' - @JesseLingard makes way for @PaulPogba in #MUFC's first change of the game. #MUNHUD
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 3, 2018
Jose Mourinho’s side are gunning for a second now as substitute Hefele hauls down Alexis Sanchez bearing down on goal. The free-kick is 35m out from goal and a decent position for a strike on goal.
GOAL! MAN UNITED 2-0 HUDDERSFIELD (SANCHEZ 68)
Man United earn a penalty after Alexis Sanchez was brought down inside the area by Hefele. His initial spot-kick is saved by Lössl but the forward bags the rebound for his first goal at his new club. Double delight for the hosts and it’s 2-0.
After his initial spot-kick was saved, @Alexis_Sanchez tucked home the rebound to double our lead!
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 3, 2018
Meanwhile, there are changes for both sides as @MarcusRashford replaces @JuanMata8 and Ince comes on for Van La Parra. #MUNHUD pic.twitter.com/VEOanlj3rR
Substitution for Man United: Anthony Martial replaces Romelu Lukaku
77' - @RomeluLukaku9 makes way for @AnthonyMartial in #MUFC's third and final change. #MUNHUD
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 3, 2018
Huddersfield still going at it via Smith but Marcus Rashford tracks back to get a strong challenge in and end the danger at its source along the left touchline. The result seems all but inevitable here but David Wagner’s charges continue to push forward in search of halving the deficit.
82' #mufc 2-0 #htafc: Town really pushing forwards now; a last ditch interception from Valencia stops @FloHadergjonaj's cross finding an unmarked Ince six yards out (AT)
— Huddersfield Town (@htafcdotcom) February 3, 2018
Almost a third to wrap things up for Jose Mourinho’s side. Anthony Martial has proven his worth as an impact sub on more than one occasion this season.
He was instrumental linking up with Sanchez and Rashford in the opposition final third, however Huddersfield recover to clear.
There will be three minutes of additional time to come at the end of the first half.
FULL-TIME: MAN UNITED 2-0 HUDDERSFIELD
FT: #MUFC 2 Huddersfield 0.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 3, 2018
Second-half goals from @RomeluLukaku9 and @Alexis_Sanchez secure a deserved victory for the Reds. pic.twitter.com/0sU3zw2xPp
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