Manchester United welcome Paul Ince’s Reading to Old Trafford in an intriguing Fourth Round tie in 2022-23 FA Cup.
Victory would see Utd advance to the fifth round for the eighth time in nine seasons, whilst Reading are looking to reach the Fifth Round for the first time since 2019-20 season.
Team News
Luke Shaw could return for Man Utd after he missed their first-leg victory at Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup, due to illness.
Jadon Sancho (personal) is a doubt but Diogo Dalot (hamstring), Axel Tuanzebe (unspecified), Donny van de Beek (knee), Anthony Martial (leg) and Mason Greenwood (personal) remain absent.
Reading will welcome striker, Andy Carroll back into contention after he missed their defeat at Stoke last weekend with an ankle injury.
Naby Sarr (foot) is a doubt but Sam Hutchinson (Achilles), Liam Moore (hamstring) and Ovie Ejaria (knee) are ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
Utd’s clash against Reading at Old Trafford on Saturday 28 January will take place at 8pm GMT, and will be televised live on ITV4 for UK-based supporters.
Stat Attack
- Man Utd have lost just one of 15 previous FA Cup meetings against Reading across 10 separate ties (W9, D5, L1).
- Reading are winless in eight previous FA Cup visits to Old Trafford (D2, L6).
- Both teams have scored in each of the five previous draws in FA Cup meetings, with four of those draws ending in a 1-1 result.
- Utd are looking to avoid Fourth Round exits in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2000-01 & 01-02 seasons.
- Reading have won just one of their last five FA Cup ties against Premier League opposition (W1, L4).
Prediction
Despite this match sandwiching the two legs of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Forest, Man Utd hold a 3-0 lead in that semi so I do expect them to now go full-strength here and rest key players in midweek instead given their advantage over Forest.
Utd though still have work to do in terms of their end product because I thought that they were wasteful with impatient finishing in midweek, amidst their excellent attacking intensity and movement plus solid defending.
Reading meanwhile can’t do any worse than last weekend’s shambolic display at Stoke with awful defensive man marking, whilst their end product was just as poor so all-round improvements will be required if they want to win here.
I though can’t see them getting anything because Utd are in such strong form that I really feel that it would have to take something stunning for a cupset to happen, so the Royals’ best hope will be to keep things as tight as possible and take their chances clinically.
Prediction: Manchester United 2-0 Reading
Result: Manchester United 3-1 Reading