Manchester United vs Huddersfield Town. Premier League.
Old TraffordAttendance74,742.
Saturday 3 February 2018 13:46, UK
Marouane Fellaini joins Manchester United's injury list ahead of the Premier League match against Huddersfield at Old Trafford.
The Belgium international came off seven minutes after being brought on in the midweek defeat at Tottenham and faces a spell on the sidelines with a knee injury.
That first defeat in 10 in all competitions for United leaves them 15 points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City, with Mourinho conceding the title may well be heading back to United's bitter rivals.
"It's important for us because we need points to be the first of the last," Mourinho said. "We need to try to finish second."
At home, United remain a dominant force, though. United have lost just two of their last 39 Premier League home games, with both of those defeats coming against City.
Despite not tasting league success since the beginning of December, Huddersfield will travel west to Manchester in hopeful mood, having earned a first win over United since 1952 with a 2-1 victory at the John Smith's Stadium back in October.
Defender Eric Bailly and striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic remain absent for United and defender Daley Blind has been out with an ankle issue recently, but Alexis Sanchez is in line to make his home debut for United.
Huddersfield will be without Danny Williams for a second game in succession. Williams missed the midweek defeat to Liverpool due to the dead leg he suffered during the FA Cup tie against Birmingham and he has not recovered in time.
Chris Lowe (groin) is also ruled out as the Terriers try to end a four-game losing streak which has left them just a point above the relegation places. Loan signing Terence Kongolo was taken to hospital after feeling ill following the Liverpool game, but he has been given the all-clear.
These sides have not met at Old Trafford since March 1972, with the Red Devils winning 2-0 in a top-flight fixture with goals from Ian Storey-Moore and George Best.
Huddersfield are winless in their last 14 away games against Man Utd in all competitions (D5 L9) since a 6-0 victory in September 1930.
The last 19 clubs playing their first Premier League match at Old Trafford have all lost - the last team to avoid defeat were Derby County in April 1997, winning 3-2.
Manchester United haven't lost twice in a league season against a newly promoted side since the 1986/87 campaign, losing both matches against Wimbledon.
Since the start of last season, Alexis Sanchez has been involved in eight goals in his nine Premier League games against newly promoted sides (7 goals, 1 assist), including a goal against Huddersfield in Arsenal's 5-0 win against them in November.
Romelu Lukaku has netted 81 goals in 147 games against non 'big-six' sides, compared to just 15 goals in 63 Premier League appearances against them (Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur).
Manchester United were comprehensively beaten by Tottenham but this is a very nice game for them to have straight after the defeat at Wembley. Huddersfield are struggling badly at the moment and, at Old Trafford, I don't see anything else other than a home win. If you could handpick someone to play after the defeat they suffered at Wembley, Huddersfield would be it. It's perfect.
PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0 (9/2 with Sky Bet)
