Premier League action returns to the Gtech Community Stadium today and it couldn’t be much bigger as a home season opener with Manchester United the visitors to TW8.

The two sides had contrasting fortunes on opening day with the Red Devils losing at home to Brighton & Hove Albion while we fought back from two down to take a point at Leicester City. Get all the big match build-up below.

The opposition

The Erik ten Hag era didn’t get off to the best of starts with Manchester United suffering a 2-1 defeat at home to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Dutchman’s first game in charge last Sunday.

That game at Old Trafford saw summer signings Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez all make their debuts, but it’s the future of Cristiano Ronaldo that is taking up the most column inches in the early weeks of the campaign. The talismanic striker, who was United’s top scorer last season, played just 45 minutes in pre-season, as rumours swirled of a move away from Old Trafford, before featuring off the bench last weekend.

On the pitch, Ten Hag is seeking to end United’s five-year wait for a trophy, their longest run since the early 1970s, and close what was a 35-point gap to rivals, and Premier League Champions, Manchester City last season.

Alongside their three major incomings, United’s summer business so far has seen Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata and Nemanja Matic all leave on permanent deals while Dean Henderson and Alex Telles have headed out on loan.

Last Sunday saw ten Hag deploy Eriksen as a ‘false nine’ with Marcus Rashford, Jaden Sancho, and Bruno Fernandes playing in behind. United registered 17 shots during the match and dominated possession, but only had Alexis Mac Allister’s own goal to show for their efforts.

The gameplan

United reporter Tom McDermott told us how he expects United to line-up in Hot off the Press:

“It will be a 4-3-3 with the midfield changing shape at different phases of the game and play. If Ronaldo starts, then expect Ten Hag to go with the additional protection of Fred and Scott McTominay, something not all United fans are fond of.”

Team news

Thomas Frank is considering a spot in the squad for new signing Mikkel Damsgaard but has ruled out starting our latest summer arrival. Kristoffer Ajer and Sergi Canós (both hamstring) are still a number of weeks away while Ethan Pinnock (knee) is a longer-term absentee.

Manchester United will be without Anthony Martial, Facundo Pellistri and Victor Lindelof through injury. After coming off the bench against Brighton last weekend, Cristiano Ronaldo is in contention to start at the Gtech Community Stadium.

The manager

Erik ten Hag was confirmed as Manchester United manager in April 2022, replacing Ralf Rangnick after the 2021/22 Premier League campaign.

Ten Hag had a 13-year playing career, including three spells with Twente, where he retired in 2002. During that career he won the 1990/91 Eerste Divisie with De Graafschap and the 2000/01 KNVB Cup with Twente.

After his playing career finished, he was appointed as manager of Go Ahead Eagles in 2012, leading the team to their first promotion in 17 years during his only season at the club.

He moved to Bayern Munich's reserve team in June 2013 and two years later, was appointed the sporting director and head coach of Utrecht, where he won the manager of the year award in 2016.

The 52-year-old took over as Ajax head coach midway through the 2017/18 campaign and would lead them to the UEFA Champions League semi-final the following season.

That year, Ten Hag also claimed his first trophies as a manager, winning the league and cup double.

In January 2022, he became the fastest manager to reach 100 league wins with Ajax, achieving the feat in just 128 matches.

Last time out

Match officials

Referee: Stuart Attwell

Assistant Referees: Marc Perry and Edward Smart

Fourth Official: Anthony Taylor

Video Assistant Referee: Paul Tierney

Additional Video Assistant Referee: Gary Beswick

Stuart Attwell made history on 23 August 2008 when he became the youngest referee of a Premier League game, taking charge of Blackburn Rovers vs Hull City aged just 25. That completed a remarkable rise for the Nuneaton-born official who had only taken charge of his first EFL game 12 months previously.

Over the course of the past decade, Attwell has taken charge of matches in the Premier League, EFL, UEFA Champions League, Europa League, as well as two play-off finals and the 2011 Under-19 European Championship final.

We have lost just five times in the 14 matches which Attwell has officiated, winning six in a row between September 2012 and November 2017. Last season, Attwell took charge of us twice, at home to Liverpool in September and at Southampton in January.

Manchester United 22/23

7 fouls – 15th in Premier League

4 yellow cards – Most in Premier League

0 red cards – Fewest in Premier League