Match Preview: Manchester United vs. Sunderland

Manchester United take on Sunderland Saturday at Old Trafford and the two sides are on completely different trajectories at the moment.

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Manchester United are coming off back-to-back victories with three-goal outputs in each. The Red Devils occupy second place in the Premier League table, just two points behind noisy neighbors Manchester City.

Meanwhile, Sunderland have yet to taste victory this Premier League campaign and find themselves dead last in the table. The Black Cats have lost consecutive Premier League fixtures – home to Tottenham and away to Bournemouth – and were held scoreless in each.

Fabio Borini relishing Manchester United challenge as Sunderland search for first win http://t.co/CK6Djsw5ag
— Sunderland News (@SunderlandMail) September 24, 2015

Manchester United and Sunderland had very different fortunes in the Capital One Cup fixtures this week, as well, as van Gaal’s side dispatched Ipswich Town 3-0 at Old Trafford. Sunderland, on the other hand, lost 4-1 to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

Obviously, Sunderland has to find a way to score if they want to get something from this match. A task which could be made easier by Marcos Rojo’s recent injury which will rule him out of the match. With Rojo and Shaw both out injured, Manchester United’s options at left back are limited.

Man United face defensive injury crisis as Van Gaal rules out Marcos Rojo. http://t.co/3q5pCPhQOs pic.twitter.com/EqtzEJ9yxE
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 24, 2015

Van Gaal insists on pairing a left-footed player with a right-footed player for his central defense partnership, which complicates things as Daley Blind is the only remaining player fully comfortable playing left back. This could mean that Ashley Young plays left back again, just as he did against Ipswich Town in the Capital One Cup.

Believe it or not, Sunderland has had an easier time scoring than anticipated – the Black Cats have scored in four of six league matches and six of eight matches overall. Their problem has been keeping the ball from bulging the back of their net as Sunderland have conceded one goal or less in just two of six league matches and two of eight overall.

Manchester United should be full of confidence going into this fixture. Anthony Martial has lit a fire in the club’s attacking play and will look to become the first ever Manchester United player to score in each of his first three Premier League matches for the club.

Anthony Martial has scored as many goals for Man Utd in four games (4) as Falcao managed in 29 games for the club. pic.twitter.com/UGoeXce78v
— Squawka (@Squawka) September 24, 2015

History is not on the Black Cats’ side as Sunderland are 1-6-19 in Premier League fixtures against Manchester United, with their lone victory coming against a Manchester United side managed by Ryan Giggs at Old Trafford during the 2013-14 season.

Prediction: Manchester United 2-0 Sunderland

Goals: Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial

Manchester United are playing too well at the moment for Sunderland to keep the Red Devils from acquiring the three points. Wayne Rooney will break his Premier League goose-egg and Martial will keep the momentum going with yet another goal.

TV Info: 10 a.m. EST, NBCSN