Ipswich vs Manchester United LIVE: Premier League result and final score from Ruben Amorim’s first game

This will be Rúben Amorim’s first match in charge of Manchester United. Aged 39 years and 302 days on the day of this game, he’s the youngest to take charge of his first match for the Red Devils since Wilf McGuinness in August 1969 (31y 288d).

Manchester United have won 17 of their last 19 Premier League games against newly promoted opponents (D2) since a 4-1 loss at Watford in November 2021. Away from home, they have won their last nine league games at promoted sides; in English top-flight history, only Chelsea have won 10+ away matches in succession against such opponents (21 in a row from October 2002 to November 2008).

Alejandro Garnacho has been directly involved in 20 Premier League goals for Manchester United (13 goals, 7 assists), one of only two non-British players to reach that figure for the Red Devils before turning 21, along with Cristiano Ronaldo (25 – 14 goals, 11 assists).

Ipswich have lost four of their last five Premier League games against Man Utd (D1), failing to score in each defeat. This is their first such meeting since a 1-0 home loss in April 2002.

They are looking to earn back-to-back wins in the Premier League for the first time since February 2002 (a run of four that started with a 2-1 win against Tottenham).

Ipswich are the only side without a home win in the Premier League this season (P5 D3 L2). Only five newly promoted sides have failed to win their opening six home matches of a Premier League campaign, all of which went on to be relegated: Swindon Town in 1993/94, Crystal Palace in 1997/98, Norwich City in 2004/05, Sunderland in 2005/06, and Burnley in 2023/24.

These two sides have met 51 times in the past, though not since 2015, when United won 3-0 in an FA Cup tie.

The last time the two sides met in the league was in 2002, when United ran out 1-0 winners thanks to a penalty from Ruud Van Nistelrooy.

Overall, United have won 25 meetings, Ipswich have won 17, and nine have ended as draws.

In his pre-match press conference, Kieran McKenna said that he thinks that his side “ have enough depth at the moment to be competitive in the match”.

“We are going to put out the team we think gives us the best chance to win the game.

“We will have some good options and hopefully if we can get a few players back in the next week or so we will have a strong squad available for a busy run of games.

“We’ve had the balance of a little bit of rest – because we know it is a busier spell coming up now right through until the March international fixtures – but also some good preparation time. Preparation time that has been important with the team we are facing next under new management.

“It’s been about getting them focused and ready for a big performance on Sunday.”

Ruben Amorim is relishing the “huge responsibility” of taking Manchester United back to the top as the new head coach prepares to take charge for the first time at Ipswich.

Having stayed at Sporting Lisbon for three final matches after being named Erik ten Hag’s successor on November 1, the 39-year-old will finally be in the Red Devils’ dugout for Sunday’s trip to Portman Road.

Quite the task awaits Amorim given underperforming United entered the weekend 13th in the Premier League standings with a paltry four wins from their opening 11 matches.

Before the international break, Ipswich won their first game of the season with a 2-1 victory at Spurs. In the four matches before that, they had had three losses and a draw, including a 4-3 loss to Brentford and 4-1 loss to West Ham.

Kieran McKenna’s side sit 19th in the league, but only one point away from the safety zone.

United have had mixed results themselves, though things have picked up slightly since Erik ten Hag was sacked. They beat Leicester 3-0 last time out, and beat PAOK in the Europa League after a draw to Chelsea at Old Trafford.

They sit 12th on just 15 points as things stand.

In preparing for his presentation as Manchester United manager, Ruben Amorim has been mindful of an idea that has guided his coaching career so far. That is, if you can’t say something in a single sentence, don’t do it. Work on it, so it’s clear.

That approach has never been more necessary than at Old Trafford, where constant noise and fire have created this fog around one of English football’s great institutions. The team, as much as anything else, could do with some simple clarity.

That is what the players have found in Amorim’s training sessions. They’ve been impressed by the focus of his instructions, as he immerses himself in the drills. It’s only a decade since Amorim was a player, after all. The image so far has been assured.

We thought there would be some surprises! Ruben Amorim names his first Manchester United team, with a front-three of Alejandro Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford and both Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund on the bench!

The back three is made up of Noussair Mazrouai, Matthijs De Ligt and Jonny Evans, with Amad Diallo and Diogo Dalot the full-backs? Casemiro and Christian Eriksen are the midfield pair and there is strength on the bench, with Mason Mount, Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw all there.

Ipswich XI: Muric, Davis, Burgess, O’Shea, Johnson, Tuanzebe, Morsy, Cajuste, Szmodics, Hutchinson, Delap

Man Utd XI: Onana, Mazrouai, De Ligt, Evans, Casemiro, Eriksen, Amad, Dalot, Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford

Subs: Bayindir, Malacia, Shaw, Mainoo, Mount, Ugarte, Antony, Hojlund, Zirkzee

We’re expecting team news in the next five minutes or so. What will the first starting eleven of Ruben Amorim’s tenure bring?

Leny Yoro is NOT in the United squad - so he’ll have to wait a little longer for a debut.