City are among the sides heavily linked with Spurs striker Harry Kane, throwing up the tantalising possibility that the England captain could line up against his boyhood club on the opening weekend.
Browsing: Old Trafford
After anti-Glazer protestors got into the ground and onto the pitch 11 days ago, further demonstrations could not stop Thursday’s Premier League fixture from going ahead.
The hosts would effectively secure a top-four spot next season with victory over their greatest enemies, while Liverpool have a lot more work to do to clinch Champions League football themselves.
The Red Devils are 14 places and 30 points better off than their visitors in the Premier League table, but have found the Clarets an unlikely bogey team on home turf in recent years.
Rashford latched onto a long ball from Victor Lindelof in the first half, the striker injecting one bit of quality into a frantic contest at Los Carmenes before Fernandes made it two in the 90th minute after being elbowed by Yan Eteki.
The Red Devils lost 3-1 to Leicester City in the quarter-finals, but they sit second in the league heading into this weekend’s fixtures.
Man United are currently second in the table, 14 points behind leaders Manchester City, while the Red Devils sit six points clear of fifth-placed West Ham, who are firmly in the hunt for a top-four spot.
United revealed their second quarter fiscal 2021 results on Thursday, with debt rising and revenue down 7.2 per cent year-on-year with with profit also dropping by 6.9 per cent.
The 39-year-old striker established himself as a fan favourite during his short spell at Old Trafford, scoring in the Community Shield and EFL Cup triumphs in 2016/17.
The Red Devils have drawn three of their last four league games and are now 10 points adrift of leaders Manchester City, while Newcastle are six points above the relegation zone.
United issued a statement on Tuesday claiming they have received “an undisclosed fee” although Boca insist Rojo’s contact at Old Trafford had been terminated before a deal was struck with the Argentina international.
The move is subject to him passing a medical and agreeing personal terms.
The 28-year-old midfielder has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford and is yet to make a Premier League appearance this campaign.
Mohamed Salah had put Liverpool ahead, but Mason Greenwood struck to cancel that out and send the teams into the interval level.
The Red Devils, who won the last of their 12 FA Cups in 2016, suffered a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup on Wednesday, while Watford will enter the contest off the back of a 2-1 defeat to Swansea City in the Championship on January 2.
Two second half goals from John Stones and Fernandinho gave Pep Guardiola’s side victory in the match.
The Nigerian striker signed a six-month loan deal back in January, which was then extended for a further six months.
The hosts come into the match now sitting sixth in the Premier League table with a game in hand over most of the teams around them, while Leeds were big winners against Newcastle United last time out.
The empty stands no doubt played a part in the 183rd Manchester derby lacking bite and intensity, nine months on from a packed crowd roaring their side to victory in what proved to be the last Old Trafford match with supporters.
Just one of Man United’s 10 points so far this term has come on home territory, but they face a West Brom side struggling in the relegation zone without a win home or away so far in 2020-21.