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
Burnley 4-0 Sunderland
Burnley's Andre Gray scores on his way to a hat-trick against Sunderland
GOAL - Burnley 4-1 Sunderland
That man Defoe is on target for Sunderland - consolation or comeback?
Liverpool vs Man city
Team news coming in for the late kick-off at Anfield, where Daniel Sturridge is on the bench for Liverpool.
Man Utd 0-1 Middlesbrough
Rashford goes down in the area under a challenge by Espinosa but the referee, Lee Mason, says no penalty. That will only add to Mourinho's festive cheer...
Man Utd 0-1 Middlesbrough
So, so close from United as Mata's shot is deflected just wide.
GOAL - Chelsea 4-2 Stoke City
Costa smashes a shot into the top corner and that is very much that. Chelsea heading nine points clear. Over to you Liverpool and City.
GOAL - Man Utd 1-1 Middlesbrough
Anthony Martial finally gets the goal United deserve! He slots into the bottom corner and Old Trafford erupts!
GOAL - Man Utd 2-1 Middlesbrough
Well well well. Two goals in two minutes and Middlesbrough don't know what's hit them. Pogba heads home powerfully, a great goal.
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