Ipswich v Man Utd Preview

As Ruben Amorim prepares for his first match as Man Utd manager, the Red Devils face a tricky away fixture against Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Sunday evening (kick-off 4.30pm)

Team Form

Ipswich go into this match in a precarious position, currently sitting 19th in the Premier League table with just 8 points from 11 games. They have struggled to find consistency, with their recent form showing one win, one draw, and three defeats in their last five league matches. However, they’ll be buoyed by their surprising 2-1 victory over Tottenham before the international break.

Manchester United, on the other hand, find themselves in 13th place with 15 points from 11 games. The Red Devils have shown signs of improvement recently, with two wins, two draws, and one loss in their last five league outings. Their most recent Premier League result was a convincing 3-0 win against Leicester City two weeks ago.

Key Statistics

Possession and Passing: Manchester United have dominated possession this season, averaging 52.1% compared to Ipswich’s 40.5%. This is reflected in their passing statistics, with United completing an average of 491.5 passes per match at 85% accuracy, while Ipswich manage 353.8 passes at 81% accuracy.

Attacking Threat: The Red Devils have been more potent in attack, averaging 14 shots per game with 5.2 on target. In contrast, Ipswich have managed 9.8 shots per match with 3 on target. This has translated to a goal-scoring advantage for United, who average 1.8 goals per game compared to Ipswich’s 1.3.

Defensive Solidity: Manchester United have been more solid at the back, conceding an average of 1.1 goals per game and keeping 8 clean sheets in 20 matches. Ipswich have struggled defensively, allowing 1.6 goals per game and managing only 4 clean sheets in the same number of fixtures.

Player Impact

For Ipswich, Liam Delap leads the scoring charts with four goals, while Sam Morsy and Samuel Szmodics have chipped in with a goal each. Man Utd’s attack has been more evenly spread, with Alejandro Garnacho contributing 2 goals and 1 assist, while Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo have each scored once and provided an assist, but neither team have been deadly in front of goal so far this season.

Tactical Considerations

Amorim is expected to implement his favored 3-4-3 formation that worked well at Sporting, which could see a significant shift in United’s playing style. This tactical change may take time to bed in, potentially giving the home side an opportunity to capitalise on any early-season uncertainties.

Injury Concerns

Both teams have injury worries to contend with. Jacob Greaves and Jack Taylor are doubtful for Ipswich, while United have long-term absentees in Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, and Leny Yoro.

As Amorim begins his tenure at Manchester United, he will be under pressure from the media to see how quickly he can turn things around. Ipswich, meanwhile, will be eager to build on their recent victory and climb out of the relegation zone, while also hoping that Southampton lose to Liverpool earlier in the afternoon.

We’re predicting a closely-fought 1-0 away victory.