2024-25 UEFA Europa League: League Phase – Man Utd vs Rangers

Manchester United meet Rangers in their penultimate league phase fixture in 2024-25 UEFA Europa League. 

Depending on results elsewhere, victory could lift Man Utd as high as third in the table whilst Rangers likewise can go third with a win if other results go in their favour.

 

Team News

Man Utd have no fresh injury concerns to report coming into this game after a 3-1 Premier League loss at home to Brighton.

Jonny Evans (muscle), Mason Mount (leg), Victor Lindelöf and Luke Shaw (both unspecified) are still sidelined.

Rangers will be without Mohamed Diomande who is suspended following his third booking in the league phase, which saw them draw 1-1 against Tottenham.

Dujon Sterling (foot), Oscar Cortes, John Souttar (both unspecified), Neraysho Kasanwirjo (knee) and Tom Lawrence (knock) remain ruled out.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Man Utd host Rangers at Old Trafford on Thursday 23 January at 8pm GMT, live on TNT Sport 1 in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Man Utd are unbeaten in four previous meetings against Rangers in all UEFA competitions (W3, D1).
• Rangers are winless in two previous trips to Man Utd (D1, L1), having lost 3-0 in November 2003 then drew 0-0 in September 2010.
• Man Utd are yet to concede to Rangers across all UEFA competitions.
• Ruben Amorim’s Red Devils have kept just one clean sheet in the league phase of this season’s competition.
• Mohamed Diomande has been booked in two of Rangers’ three away trips in the league phase of this season’s competition, but is suspended for this game.

 

Prediction

Following another inconsistent performance and sloppy defensive errors in the loss to Brighton, it is hard to predict when Utd team will even roll up let alone perform but this is realistically a must-win if want to boost their chances of avoiding the knockout play-offs, so a huge effort is needed if they’re to find a win.

Rangers meanwhile clinically bided their time before dispatching Fraserburgh in their Scottish Cup tie with a ruthless second-half display unlike their scrappy first-half performance, which has to be a base for them to build on coming to Old Trafford and target Utd’s vulnerable defence.

Nevertheless this feels like it could be very scrappy if not cagey as Utd won’t want to lose this all-British encounter but Rangers are in better form and confidence, which makes a draw look a fair call.

Prediction: Man Utd 1-1 Rangers

Result: Man Utd 2-1 Rangers