United’s seven games in April

After a spell of inactivity, Manchester United’s schedule springs back into life as soon as we hit April.

Tuesday’s Premier League game against Nottingham Forest on the opening day of the month is the first of seven fixtures facing Ruben Amorim’s men across April, with challenges facing the team at home and abroad.

Of course, the two-legged Europa League quarter-final with French side Lyon is of vital importance, in addition to the league matches on the agenda.

There is plenty to look forward to, including the Manchester derby at Old Trafford, as the domestic game returns with a vengeance.

Check out our brief match-by-match guide…

Amad wins the most recent Manchester derby, back in December.

Tue 1 Apr: Nottingham Forest (A) 20:00 BST

After what feels like an eternity, United are finally back in action when taking on third-placed Nottingham Forest at The City Ground.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s men have enjoyed a fabulous campaign and will be tough opponents, after winning 3-2 at Old Trafford in the reverse fixture.

Leading scorer Chris Wood has been flagged as a doubt after picking up an injury while on international duty with New Zealand, while former Red Anthony Elanga scored for Sweden against Northern Ireland and is likely to be a handful.

Sun 6 Apr: Manchester City (H) 16:30 BST

The Manchester derby always needs little introduction and the Reds are chasing a double over the current champions, following the thrilling 2-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium in December.

Pep Guardiola’s team have experienced a difficult season but are still competing for the Emirates FA Cup, facing Bournemouth this weekend in the quarter-finals.

The Blues currently sit in sixth place and there is every incentive for United to upset their bid for Champions League football next term.

Thu 10 Apr: Lyon (A) 20:00 BST

The first leg of the last-eight tie with the French side, in the Europa League, is another big test. The competition represents a chance to gain access to the 2025/26 Champions League and our reward for seeing off Real Sociedad is a match-up with a team currently placed fifth in Ligue 1.

Lyon have some real talent on their books, including France Under-21s sensation Rayan Cherki, but forward Malick Fofana could miss this tie after being injured while on international duty with Belgium.

Ex-Red Nemanja Matic is part of the midfield and he will be relishing the chance to come up against his old club.

Sun 13 Apr: Newcastle United (A) 16:30 BST

Hot on the heels of the trip to France is a journey to the north east to face the Magpies.

Newcastle are on the crest of a wave after finally ending their long trophy drought by beating Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final, and they are sure to be backed by their passionate support in this Sunday afternoon kick-off.

The Reds were very disappointing in the corresponding fixture, losing 2-0, and will be determined to set the record straight on Tyneside.

Our last meeting with Lyon came during a pre-season friendly in Scotland.

Thu 17 Apr: Lyon (H) 20:00 BST

This promises to be a big night at Old Trafford, as we look to book a place in the last four of the Europa League.

With the new format, it is already decided that the victors of this tie will meet either Athletic Club or Rangers at the semi-final stage.

United emerged victorious from our previous two home games against l’OL, but only by one-goal margins on both occasions, and it could well be tight again.

Sun 20 Apr: Wolves (H) 14:00 BST

The Black Country outfit visit the Theatre of Dreams and will be hoping they are clear of the relegation zone by the time of this fixture.

Wolves won the reverse game, 2-0, when Bruno Fernandes was sent off and Matheus Cunha scored the second goal. The hosts’ key man is currently suspended but should be back for the match in Manchester.

It represents our last home clash in April and only two more remain in the Premier League before the season is out.

Bruno Fernandes scored this penalty in our last game at the Vitality Stadium.

Sun 27 Apr: Bournemouth (A) 14:00 BST

The game at the Vitality Stadium will need to be rearranged if the Cherries manage to knock Manchester City out of the FA Cup on Sunday and progress to the semi-finals.

Whenever it goes ahead, Andoni Iraola’s hosts are certain to pose a stern examination for Amorim’s Reds, as they have been a fabulous attacking team all term.

The south-coast side pulled off a second successive 3-0 Old Trafford win earlier in the campaign and are chasing a spot in European football their performances have arguably deserved.

Our last game there finished 2-2, with Bruno Fernandes scoring both of our goals.

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As he continues to navigate a challenging second season at Manchester United, it’s easy to forget Rasmus Hojlund is still only 22 and developing all the time.

The Denmark international joined in 2023, regarded as one of the most exciting young talents in European football. He scored 16 goals from 43 appearances across all competitions in his debut season, and also won the Emirates FA Cup.

Hojlund’s second campaign began with an injury, just moments after scoring in the opening match of Tour 2024. He returned to action in late September and, like the team, he has struggled to produce consistent performances so far this term.

Rasmus scored his eighth goal of 2024/25 in our last match, the 3-0 win at Leicester City, and he followed that up with a winner against Portugal in the international break. As his momentum builds, it is hoped the youngster can kick on.

Here, United Academy graduate and former Premier League striker Danny Webber gives us his expert insight into the Danish striker’s attributes and assets, and picks out where the youngster can develop further in the big year ahead…

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Hey Danny. From your point of view as a striker, what are Rasmus’s main qualities and attributes?
“If you look at the goals he’s scored since he’s been at United, most of them are strikers’ goals when he’s in and around 12 yards from goal, with one and two touches in the box. If we can get him in those positions, I think he will finish chances. I like his endeavour; he’s up for the scrap, which is a prerequisite, and something you want from your forwards and all of your players.”

What is the one thing that impresses you most about his game?
“The fact that he’s willing. In the box his finishing is sublime, his one-touch and two-touch finishes. He knows how to manoeuvre the ball, which is something you need as a striker. There are many people that play in that position who don’t know how to do what he does. The challenge is getting him in those positions more often and running the channels. There are times when he’s running the channel, getting down the side of centre-backs, and he’s devastating. He’s strong, he’s quick and he’s got a finish at the end of it. That’s when you see Rasmus at his best.”

Rasmus turned 22 in February; at what age would you expect to see Rasmus at his peak, and what can he look to improve on to reach that peak? 
“The peak for a striker is usually around the mid-20s, but what you want to be seeing is improvement in his game, and the things he’s working on on the training pitch coming out in the game. One of the things I notice is that he wrestles a lot with the centre-halves. I see him engage in the physical battles with centre-halves, and it’s tiring. That’s not something you can fault in his mentality – the fact he’s up for the fight is really important – but if you’re doing that for an hour in the game, you lose your potency and power because it takes a lot of energy to wrestle with somebody for that length of time. So little bits of movement where he’s not engaging, and if he does have to contact the defender it’s him in control – and also not with his back to goal all the time, because it’s very difficult playing with your back to goal for 60 minutes. You can do a lot of the dirty work but not look dangerous, so you need to look for little pockets of movement. 

“Sir Alex sent me away to Watford with Gianluca Vialli when I was 20, to work on my movement, and it was the best thing I could ever have done. I didn’t have the physical presence of Rasmus but it taught me not to get involved in the physical battle. You can use your physicality when needed but you’re working on having one touch then spin, and then defenders can’t touch you. Those are the sorts of things I’d like to see from Rasmus and they could help him to score 25 goals a season, because I think he’s capable.”

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Last season he hit double figures in the league. How much potential do you think he has to go on to become that player who can score even more?
“He has all the potential. And some of it isn’t potential, some it he realises, but he needs consistency, to be able to stay fit consistently, and create rhythm and habits that get you into goalscoring positions regularly. That will be the one thing that changes his whole game and ramps his goalscoring levels up, because to get 16 goals last season in a team that didn’t do so well is a good return considering the number of games he missed. If we can keep him fit and he keeps getting in the right areas, and if we create chances for him, it’s almost a no-brainer that he’s going to get you 25-30 goals.”

Going into a new calendar year with a fresh perspective, working on a new style of play with a new manager, how big a year can this be for him?
“It’s as big as he makes it. And as a striker you have to demand from the people around you, too, so it’s as big as he wants it to be. When Cristiano Ronaldo was here he demanded that people put the ball in certain places for him. He did all the work off the pitch. And I’m not saying Rasmus is Cristiano Ronaldo by any stretch of the imagination, but if you’re a striker and you’re not getting chances, you have to go and have conversations and be a good communicator. Speak to your wingers, speak to Bruno, and tell them where you want the ball, because you want to score goals for Man United. Identify where you’re strong and identify where you’re going to get your goals. You know that if you score goals it is only going to help the team. So you’ve got to communicate verbally and do your work off the pitch.”

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“It’s about tweaks with strikers and gaining margins of advantage against centre-halves, so it’s easier to be destructive and be creative. You can’t be wrestling all the time and not be ready when that one big chance comes along, so you speak to the wide men and tell them where you want the ball, so I know when you’ve got the ball in those areas the ball is going to come in and I can run with conviction and be ready for that one chance. You watch Mo Salah. He stays high. As soon as Liverpool break they look for him and he knows where he’s going to run and all of a sudden he’s one-v-one against a defender. That’s what Rasmus has got to do. Isolate himself one-v-one against someone and get himself beyond defenders.”

Danny Webber was speaking to Inside United magazine, our monthly publication that is available to order online.

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Tickets are available to watch Manchester United Women host Everton at Leigh Sports Village this Sunday (30 March).

The Reds can consolidate our hold on a Champions League spot ahead of the season’s final international break, with the lead over Manchester City in fourth currently standing at seven points.

We still have to host City, as well as leaders Chelsea and challengers Arsenal, following the return of domestic action in mid-April, so a win this weekend is a must. 

Here’s the important info before we go head-to-head with the Toffees…

HOW TO WATCH AND FOLLOW

Sunday’s game kicks off at 12:00 BST and is being broadcast live on the BBC Red Button and BBC iPlayer.

We’ll have people on the ground covering the action live, in the United App and on ManUtd.com and you’ll be able to watch highlights across our platforms from midday on Monday.

Want to be there in person? Click here to buy tickets for the game now.

TEAM NEWS

Celin Bizet and Anna Sandberg are doubts for the game, having been withdrawn due to injury during the second half of Sunday’s 4-0 victory at Aston Villa, but Simi Awujo was able to return to the bench at Villa Park.

Rikke Madsen returned to the Everton team for their 3-0 win over Crystal Palace – her first minutes since giving birth late last year. There was a nice moment for the Dane after the final whistle too, as partner Martin Thomsen proposed out on the pitch at Walton Hall Park.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long now, a year,” Madsen said. “I had no idea I was going to come on and I had especially no idea he was going to propose to me.

“The first thing I said to the other girls was that I hate surprises, but this one was alright.”

Brian Sorensen remains without long-term absentees Inma Gabbaro, Aurora Galli and Megan Finnigan, while Louna Ribadeira is out for the season.

FORM GUIDE

United’s home record this term has been largely stellar, with draws against Arsenal and Aston Villa in November the only blots in our league copybook.

Last Sunday’s victory over the Villans puts us in the driving seat in terms of European qualification – we need nine points from our final five games to ensure a place in the top three come season’s end.

Sunday’s visitors are seventh, with 19 points from their 17 games so far. The Toffees, who have former Reds Hayley Ladd and Emily Ramsey in their squad, as well as the on-loan Emma Watson, have found it hard on the road, having won just once away all season.

That victory came last time out though, with goals from Maren Mjelde and Honoka Hayashi seeing off Aston Villa in the Midlands.

DID YOU KNOW?

United have won nine of our 11 WSL meetings with Everton (drawing two), only holding more wins in the top-flight over Tottenham Hotspur (10).

We are 11 points better off in the WSL this season (39 points) compared to after 17 games of the 2023-24 campaign (28 points), the biggest improvement of any side.

RIVALS WATCH

SUNDAY 30 MARCH

UNITED v Everton (12:00 BST)
Brighton v Manchester City
Crystal Palace v Arsenal
Leicester v Tottenham
Liverpool v Aston Villa
Chelsea v West Ham (16:30 BST)

Kick-offs 14:00 BST unless stated.

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