Premier League
United Look To Keep Champions League Hopes Alive
Manchester United will look to keep their slim Champions League hopes alive as they face Huddersfield at The John Smith’s Stadium.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side must win their last two games to have any chance of making the top four in the Premier League.
They must also hope that Chelsea and Arsenal slip up in their last two games.
It has been a disappointing end to the campaign for Manchester United, having won just two of their last seven Premier League games.
When Solskjaer took over United appeared to playing with the old swagger and attacking style. However, that has tailed off since they defeated PSG in the Champions League.
Meanwhile, Huddersfield are already relegated and have lost their last eight Premier League games. It has been a poor campaign for The Terriers as they are destined to finish bottom of the table with just three wins all season.
Huddersfield Team News
Huddersfield forward Laurent Depoitre is in contention for a first appearance in two months after recovering from a foot injury.
Mathias Jorgensen is out injured because of illness but Aaron Mooy and Ben Hamer could be back in contention.
United Team News
Manchester United are missing Eric Bailly for the rest of the season due to a knee injury.
Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Romelu Lukaku, Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard are all doubts but Marcus Rashford is fit to start.
Previous Encounters
Huddersfield won last season’s meeting at The John Smith’s Stadium winning 2-1 thanks to goals from Aaron Mooy and Laurent Depoitre.
United have won their last three meetings with Huddersfield, two in the Premier League and one in the FA Cup.
In December, goals from Nemanja Matic and a double from Paul Pogba helped United to a 3-1 win.
Predicted Line-Ups
Huddersfield (4-3-3) Lossl; Smith, Schindler, Kongolo, Durm; Mooy, Stankovic, Bacuna; Hadergjonaj, Mounie, Grant
Manchester United (4-3-1-2): De Gea; Young, Lindelof, Rojo, Shaw; Matic, Herrera, Pogba; Mata; Sanchez, Rashford
Prediction
Manchester United will be hoping they can end a bitterly disappointing campaign on a high.
With two games against two of the bottom three, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side should be able to do that.
However, it is highly unlikely that will be enough to finish in the top four.
Last weekend’s draw with Chelsea has surely put paid to their Champions League hopes. When the Norwegian came in United got an immediate lift. But he will be alarmed at how much his side have tailed off towards the end of the season.
A lot of the United players know they are playing for their futures at Old Trafford. There is no doubt there will be wholesale changes at the club and a better quality of player is needed if Man Utd are to conquer England and Europe once again.
Meanwhile, Huddersfield fans can’t wait to the end of the season. They have lost their last eight Premier League games and will be eager to put a performance for there suffering fans.
The biggest problem for The Terriers has been the lack of goals, having scored just 20 all season.
They will be looking to rebuild ahead of next season’s Championship campaign and will be hoping to bounce back to the Premier League at the first attempt.
I feel they will find it tough against a United side who have a point to prove.
Prediction: Huddersfield 0-2 Manchester United
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Written by David Coates
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Photo credit to Dickson Dagogo via Flickr
