Manchester United go into their Premier League encounter with Sunderland on Saturday afternoon looking to register their eighth win from 11 attempts in all competitions.
As for Sunderland, they travel to Old Trafford at the foot of the table after earning just two points from their first six top-flight fixtures.
Manchester United
© Getty Images
During the early weeks of the season, much was made of Manchester United's lack of a cutting edge in the final third of the pitch, but since the international break, 10 goals from four fixtures seem to show that Louis van Gaal is close to finding the right formula at Old Trafford.
There are still concerns regarding a defence that has been weakened by the horrific injury to left-back Luke Shaw, but United are beginning to get it right from an attacking perspective, partly due to the impact of Anthony Martial, who was signed from AS Monaco for £36m.
After his stunning effort against Liverpool, the young Frenchman has followed up that strike with three more against Southampton and Ipswich Town, and Saturday's match could see become the first United player to score in his first three Premier League matches for the club.
Van Gaal will also hope that the 19-year-old can bring the best out of Wayne Rooney and Memphis Depay, who have both struggled during the opening six games of the campaign, while the onus is on Juan Mata to continue his productive displays since August 8.
United are far from the finished article, but with a fixture at home to the worst team in the league, they have the opportunity to keep the pressure on neighbours Manchester City and a fifth victory in seven games may see them create breathing space between themselves and the chasing pack.
Recent form: WWDLWW
Recent form (all competitions): WLWLWW
Sunderland
© Getty Images
After witnessing Sunderland gain a point at Aston Villa and impress against Tottenham Hotspur, albeit in a narrow defeat, boss Dick Advocaat must have believed that his floundering team had begun to turn a corner.
However, their latest setbacks against Bournemouth and Manchester City have only heaped further pressure on the experienced Dutch coach ahead of the trip to Old Trafford, which has come at the wrong time.
It took all of nine minutes for Sunderland to effectively concede the game on the South Coast against Bournemouth. They still had the chance to get back into the contest from a two-goal deficit, but the uncertainty in a defence that has conceded 13 goals in six matches is affecting the rest of the team.
Little was expected at home to Manchester City in the League Cup, but it was the manner of the defeat which will create alarm bells at the Stadium of Light. City netted four times during a ruthless 27-minute spell in the first half to leave the Black Cats' fans wondering where their next win will come from.
Advocaat does have options in both defence and attack, and if the squad were to fulfil its potential, they possess the talent to become a mid-table side.
However, unless improvements are made against United, and when hosting West Ham United next weekend, Sunderland could potentially use the international break to make a change in the dugout in order to avoid another year spent risking the possibility of relegation to the Championship.
Recent form: LLDDLL
Recent form (all competitions): DWDLLL
Team News
© Getty Images
Despite making a 20-minute appearance in midweek, defender Phil Jones is unlikely to be considered for a starting role at the weekend, with the England international having to make do with a place among the substitutes.
Antonio Valencia could continue at right-back with Matteo Darmian potentially switching flanks, while Michael Carrick and Morgan Schneiderlin are expected to be preferred to Bastian Schweinsteiger and Ander Herrera.
Club captain Lee Cattermole could return to the Sunderland midfield after Advocaat revealed that he had been pleased with his contribution against City.
DeAndre Yedlin may also be given the nod in one of the full-back positions, but both Jermain Defoe and Steven Fletcher may only make the bench if Advocaat deploys Fabio Borini at the head of a 4-5-1 formation.
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Blind, Darmian, Carrick, Schneiderlin, Mata, Memphis, Rooney, Martial
Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Pantilimon; Yedlin, Kaboul, Coates, van Aanholt; M'Vila, Cattermole; Toivonen, Lens, Larsson; Borini
Head To Head
United and Sunderland have crossed paths on 120 occasions, with 56 of the matches being won by the Red Devils and 36 going the way of the Black Cats.
Sunderland have enjoyed success at Old Trafford over the past 19 months, with a penalty-shootout win in the League Cup and a top-flight success three months later taking place during the first half of 2014.
However, aside from that double, you have to go all the way to 1997 - a run of 23 matches - for their third most recent triumph.
We say: Manchester United 4-1 Sunderland
With United finding some form in front of goal and Sunderland looking incapable of keeping a clean sheet, the home side should run out routine winners. If Sunderland come through the opening 30 minutes unscathed, they may have a chance of claiming a draw, but it is difficult to envisage their hosts failing to notch at least a couple of times over the course of the afternoon.
Darren Plant
