Manchester United welcome Ipswich Town to Old Trafford in the Premier League for the first time since the 2001/2002 season.
The Red Devils have played the Tractor Boys 58 times and have won 29 matches. There have been 10 draws and 19 victories for Ipswich.
The match ended 1-1 in November at Portman Road in Ruben Amorim’s first game in charge. Here are three storylines to get your teeth into before the match.
The Return of Two Old Faces
United will welcome two former members of staff tonight when academy product Axel Tuanzebe returns to Old Trafford.
The Congolese defender played 37 times for the Red Devils before eventually moving to Portman Road in 2023 on a free transfer.
He has had a couple of serious injuries this season but he has played a total of 13 matches, including 90 minutes against Amorim’s side in November. Tuanzebe is in line to make his Old Trafford return after recovering from a recent hamstring injury.
Manager Kieran McKenna, who was one of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s assistant managers, will also make his return to the Theatre of Dreams tonight.
United’s Dominance at Home in this Fixture
Old Trafford has seen some terrible results this season and they have not won a Premier League game at home since beating Southampton last month.
Nonetheless, historically, The Theatre of Dreams has not been a happy hunting ground for the Tractor Boys. According to the BBC, “Manchester United are unbeaten in their last seven home league games against Ipswich, winning the last three by an aggregate score of 15-0.”
What’s more, “the Tractor Boys have kept just one clean sheet in the past 23 league meetings, a goalless draw at Old Trafford in November 1993.”
United fans will be desperate for more of the same tonight in the league match.
Outstanding Record Began at Home to Ipswich
Since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, United and Old Trafford have seen numerous impressive records tumble.
One that they have managed to hold onto however is that that they have not lost a league game that they have been leading at half-time at Old Trafford in over 40 years. “Ipswich’s last away league win against United was in May 1984.”
Coincidentally, “it was also the last occasion on which the Red Devils have lost a home league game in which they led at half-time. They are since unbeaten on 388 such occasions.”
Fans will hope this record stays intact by the end of tonight’s game.
Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social
Alex Browne
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
