Match Day Thread Manchester United FC v Sunderland AFC - Saturday 4th October 2025 - KO 15:00

Sunderland travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United in the Premier League
Last time out Sunderland beat Forest and United lost at Brentford.
The Black Cats won 1-0 at Nottingham thanks to a first half goal from Omar Alderete, heading in a freekick from Granit Xhaka. Forest pushed forward in the second half but could not get past Robin Roefs.
Luke O’Nien returned to the first team squad after his shoulder injury and will be looking to make his Premier League debut from the bench.
Reinildo is suspended for this game.
Manchester United have had a poor start and manager Ruben Amorim is under pressure to turn things around quickly. Skipper Bruno Fernandes had a second-half penalty saved as Amorim's side slipped to a 3-1 defeat at Brentford. Two goals from Thiago gave Brentford a 2-0 lead before Sesco got one back. A quick counter attack by Jensen sealed the game for the Bees.
Defender Tyrell Malacia has returned to first-team training, Casemiro and Amad could return from injury after missing the Brentford game.
Regis le Bris:
“It’s so important. The togetherness is non-negotiable. If you don’t work hard for the squad, you can’t be in the squad.
“Even now, that is contagious. With the new players, I think we recruited really well because their personalities match really well with our squad.
“They are working hard even if they are on the bench, they can come off and give all the energy they have to help the squad and it was the case again this evening.
“It’s tough to win games in this league. The foundations we are building together are now clear for all the Lads.
“Even if we work like that, we won’t win all the games. That happened at Burnley but we played well, we drew at Crystal Palace and we did the same game here (Nottingham Forest).
“We want to add layers progressively. Being better with the ball for example but we are being tough to beat.”
Presser expected on Thursday 1:30pm:
<tbc>

Ruben Amorim:
“I'm always doing my job, If I win, I'm in a different state of mind. That is normal, but I'm always confident, because I know what to do.
“It's my job and I'm not here just to protect the players. I'm trying to do what is best for the club and the team.
“But that is the pressure of the club. So I'm just thinking what is the best way to win the next game. I'm not trying to protect the players or myself. I'm just trying to win the next game, create the momentum.
“I try to be really objective in my analysis of the game. Today we played the game of Brentford, not our own game. And when you play the opponent's game, it's harder to win in the end.
“We never settled down to play our game. We never pushed the opponent. We knew that every time they recovered the ball, they would make a run and they would fight for the ball.

Form:


Match Appointments:
Referee: STUART ATTWELL
Assistant Referee: Constantine Hatzidakis
Assistant Referee: Nick Hopton
Fourth Official: Dean Whitestone
Video Assistant Referee: Neil Davies
Additional Video Assistant Referee: Stuart Burt

Team Lineups:
Sunderland AFC: Roefe, Hume, Alderete, Mukiele, Masuaku, Xhaka, Sadiki, Le Fee, Talbi, Rigg, Isidor.

Subs: Patterson, O’Nien, Geertruida, Ballard, Neil, Adingra, Mayenda, Brobbey, Traore
Injured: Alese, Cirkin, Hjelde, Mundle, Diarra,
Suspended: Reinildo

Manchester United: Bayindir, de Light, Maguire, Shaw, Dalot, Ugarte, Fernandes, Dorgu, Mbuemo, Cunha, Sesko.
Substitutes: Fredricson, Heaton, Heaven, Lammens, Leon, Mainoo, Mount, Yoro, Zirkzee.
Injured: Mazraoui, Martinez, Casemiro, Amad Diallo.


Betting Odds:
Sunderland 19/4 Man Utd 1/2 Draw 7/2

My two pence:
Man Utd. are struggling again this season and Amorim is already under pressure from former players Rooney, Gary Neville and many others. I’m sure RLB has analysed their defeat at Brentford and has the team set up to gain maximum points.

I’m going for a 2-1 away win
Live Stream:
TBC

Ha’way the Lads

 

That's a thing of beauty RTB, cheers.

 

feels odd going into this game with no worries at all

Man u have no fear factor any more

 

Great thread RTB, I’m down for this one, after missing the Forest game for a wedding.

Hope the rumour about Nordi is just a tactic and not true as I think we may nick this one 1-2 if he plays.

haway haway haway

 

Cheers RTB - great to see we have no significant weaknesses! Quite a statement that and long may it continue

 

Ha’way the lads!

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Cracking thread @RTB, Excellence as standard.

Hope Nordi is OK, failing that I trust Ballard to step up.

2-1 to the lads for me.

 

The only other time in my life I can remember us going to Old Trafford and expecting us to win was a certain FA Cup semi-final.
Bugger.

 

Cannot call this one really. Could see them beating us comfortably but could also see us winning by more than one.

 

Listen to the Man U supporter on here outlining their weaknesses, this is a win for the lads

 

All the pressure is on them

They have to win,
RA has to win to keep his job
Man u have to perform well

they are expected to win as well its Man U.

No one is expecting us to do anything, they are all (still) hoping we fall and do what they had hoped we'be done and struggle

we go 1-0 up early on, the crowd will turn

 

Genuinely do fancy us to win. They’re awful at the back and our pace will cause all sorts of problems.

 

Great reading RTB , thankyou. Fancy us going to Old Trafford not just having to hope for a miracle , who’d have thought .
Think we can get something regardless , but manager under so much pressure with more rhetoric of next game could be last ,if players unhappy maybe this is the one they use to get him out.
With 2nd place possible ( although Arsenal will keep that 3rd) - why not ? Let’s go 3-1 comfortable.

 

Man U are absolutely dire on the counter. If its Maguire in the middle of a high line again then its hard to see how they don't get turned over unless he's suddenly developed a turn of pace in the last week. With a good enough ball Isidor might have his goal before Maguire has managed to turn round he was that slow last Saturday. Straightforward 2-0. Maybe 3-1 with some Amad magic to get them a goal.

 

Great thread as usual @RTB, thank you.

Im going for a 1-3 win to the lads, well why not.

Thought id put this here as well....

 

I've watched pieces of Man U games and Amorim looks absolutely lost, head down, shoulders slumped and not acknowledging anyone.

I listened to WTF podcast today and the Man U fan describing their weaknesses - bad on crosses into the box, corners, free kicks - even long throws, the things that we seem strong at.

Its a pity that Diarra is injured cos I think he would've been made for this game - getting his foot and driving at their midfield and backline. No doubt whoever comes in will do the job required of them and we know that all the players will leave everything on the pitch again.

I'm slightly wary of this one, even though they haven't been good, it's still Man Utd and they have still have decent players there but I would still put us down for a 2-1 win.

 

I don't fear Man Utd but their home form is not as bad in terms of wins etc - I think we have to set up as we normally do, keep it tight and I would still happily take a point

Great thread as ever @RTB