If Louis van Gaal thinks he has got problems at Manchester United he should try swapping places with Sunderland’s Sam Allardyce. As if a relegation struggle was not bad enough, the Wearside club sacked Adam Johnson, their former England winger on Thursday night. Allardyce and Van Gaal failed to see eye to eye last season when the then West Ham manager left the Dutchman incensed after accusing Manchester United of “throwing long balls into the box” to secure a late 1-1 draw at Upton Park. Louise Taylor
Kick-off Saturday 12.45pm
Venue Stadium of Light
Last season Sunderland 1 Man Utd 1
Live BT Sport 1
Referee Andre Marriner
This season G15, Y51, R4, 3.66 cards per game
Odds H 9-2 A 4-5 D 25-9
Sunderland
Subs from Pickford, Brown, Beadling, Jones, Rodwell, Lens, N’Doye, Toivonen
Doubtful Jones (hip), Lens (hernia)
Injured Kaboul (ankle, Mar), Watmore (ankle, Apr), Larsson (knee, unknown)
Suspended None
Form WWLDLD
Discipline Y48 R2
Leading scorer Defoe 10
Manchester Utd
Subs from Romero, Pereira, Rashford, Tuanzebem, Goss, McNair, Depay, Herrera, Keane
Doubtful None
Injured Januzaj (hamstring), Varela, Jones (both knock, all 22 Feb), Rojo (shoulder), Valencia (ankle, both 28 Feb), Shaw (leg, May), Schweinsteiger (knee), Young (groin, both unknown)
Suspended None
Form WDWLWD
Discipline Y42 R0
Leading scorer Rooney 7
