Manchester United vs Middlesbrough live: What time does it start, what TV channel is it on and where can I watch it?
A look ahead to the Premier League fixture at Old Trafford
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Your support makes all the difference.The master meets the apprentice at Old Trafford as Aitor Karanka and his Middlesbrough team travel to face Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United.
Karanka worked under Mourinho during his ill-fated three-year spell at Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013 and still considers the Portuguese to be “a real friend”.
Both men, however, will be hoping for three points, with the hosts looking to extend their Premier League winning streak to five games after Monday’s victory over Sunderland.
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It’s a big game for…
Victor Valdes: The Middlesbrough goalkeeper is going back to Old Trafford where he failed to get much game time under Louis Van Gaal. The Spaniard will be looking to prove to his former employers that he can still do a job between the sticks.
Best stat…
100: This will be the hundredth meeting between Manchester United and Middlesbrough with the former taking 50 wins, Middlesbrough 22 and the 27 other fixtures ending in draws.
Remember when...
Gaizka Mendieta scored the fourth goal in a remarkable 4-1 drubbing of United back in 2005, co-incidentally the last time Boro have triumphed over the Manchester club.
Player to watch…
Henrikh Mkhitaryan: The fan favourite has really impressed since being given more game time by Jose Mourinho. In his first game back from injury on Boxing Day he netted that ingenious scorpion kick in the closing moments. Boro will need to keep the Armenian playmaker quiet to quell any attacks from the hosts.
Past three meetings…
Manchester United 0 Middlesbrough 0 (Middlesbrough win on penalties), EFL Cup, October 2015
Middlesbrough 0 Manchester United 2 (Giggs, Park Ji Sung), Premier League, May 2009
Manchester United 1 (Berbatov) Middlesbrough 0, EFL Cup, December 2008
Form guide…
Manchester United: DWWWWW
Middlesbrough: DWLLWL
Vital information…
KICK-OFF TIME: 15:00, Saturday 31 December 2016
TV: Highlights on Match of the Day, BBC TWO – 10pm
Odds…
Manchester United to win: 2/7
Middlesbrough: 12/1
Draw: 5/1
45 mins: Sterling does well to prevent Milner getting in a cross, and ends up on his backside as a result. He doesn't look a happy chap at the moment, the ex-Liverpool winger.
HALF-TIME
Strange half. Liverpool deserve their lead, given them by a fabulous Wijnaldum header, but that's been just about the only moment of excitement. Pep Guardiola's side were woeful for half an hour but there were signs towards the end of the half they were finding their feet. Plenty more life left in this one.
Manchester City only had three touches inside the Liverpool penalty area during the first half - three!
46 mins: Liverpool straight on the attack. Firmino, inside the area, picks out Clyne but the Liverpool right-back doesn't really compose himself and scuffs his shot wide.
49 mins: Great interplay between Wijnaldum and Lallana puts City on the back foot again but the visitors manage to clear. Liverpool have started this half at a higher tempo.
52 mins: City have had a shot! A swift break ends with Aguero powering a shot but it's straight at Mignolet. City's first effort on target.
56 mins: That really was close! This time it's David Silva who whips a left-footed shot inches wide of Mignolet's post. A warning for Liverpool.
57 mins: A terrific diagonal pass from Toure finds Sterling on the stretch but he volleys into the side netting. The visitors much improved.
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