EPL: Black Cats ambush Red Devils

Sunderland vs. Man United
Venue: Stadium of Light
Kick off: 1:45pm

Two teams at opposite ends of the Premier League table will meet at the Stadium of Light on Saturday (today).
Time is running out for host, Sunderland, if they are to retain their top-flight status, while visiting Manchester United face a tough challenge if they are to ensure that the famous Champions League anthem will be bellowing out around Old Trafford next season.
Sam Allardyce is known to be proud of the fact that he has never felt the pain of relegation during his career as a Premier League manager.
But while he has suffered the odd scare along the way – particularly during his time at the helm of Bolton Wanderers – that record has never been under as much threat as it is now.
Coming from two goals down to snatch a point away at Liverpool last time out will have undoubtedly boosted confidence levels among the squad, but being four points from safety with just 13 matches left to play, it is victories that Allardyce’s side need.
Preparations for the visit of United have been rocked by the news that Adam Johnson, who found the net in the draw at Anfield, has pleaded guilty to child sex offences at Bradford Crown Court.
The club are yet to comment on the matter, but the midfielder is expected to play no part while his trial continues.
It is a cliche, but if Sunderland are to finish the campaign outside of the bottom three, much of it will be down to a much-needed improvement of their home form.
Currently, only bottom-placed Aston Villa have a worse home record than the men from Wearside.
The fans at the Stadium of Light have witnessed just three victories all season – a figure that will need to increase if Sunderland are to avoid slipping into the second tier.
Prior to his arrival on these shores following the conclusion of the 2014 World Cup, Louis van Gaal had managed the biggest clubs in Spain, Germany and his native Holland.
Not all of those stints ended amicably, yet it would be fair to say that the 64-year-old has never had to deal with such intense speculation regarding the security of his job.
It is a credit to Van Gaal that although he is currently viewed as a managerial dead man walking, he has remained brash and defiant in his own ability.
The Dutchman has snapped at members of the press that have dared to question his future, which at least shows that he is determined to reverse the team’s fortunes.
His players have also responded with some fluid displays of late, scoring seven times in their last three outings – two more than United managed throughout the whole of December.
If reports are to be believed, the continuation of the Van Gaal regime hinges on whether or not United qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Last weekend’s 1-1 draw away at Chelsea has left the Red Devils six points adrift of the top four, which means that that only a victory on Wearside will do.

Sunderland possible starting lineup: Mannone, Jones, O’Shea, Kone, Van Aanholt, Kirchhoff, Cattermole, M’Vila, Khazri, N’Doye, Defoe.
Man United possible starting lineup: De Gea, Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Borthwick-Jackson, Carrick, Fellaini, Lingard, Mata, Martial, Rooney.