Manchester United striker Anthony Martial. (Photo : Reuters)
Surging Manchester United (4-1-1, 13 points) will go for its third straight win as they face cellar-dwelling Sunderland AFC (0-4-2, 2 points) in a week 7 match of the 2015-2016 Premier League season on Saturday, September 26.
The Red Devils settled for a goalless draw with lowly Newcastle United prior to their 1-2 loss to Swansea City before the break as there was allegedly an internal turmoil between manager Louis van Gaal and goalkeeper David De Gea.
After both men put aside their differences and De Gea was restored in the starting XI, Van Gaal then acquired 19-year-old Anthony Martial from Monaco during the transfer deadline, giving Wayne Rooney a reliable partner up front.
Since then, the Old Trafford giants have won two consecutive matches, trouncing Liverpool, 3-1, and outscoring Southampton, 3-2, in their most recent match at St. Mary's Stadium, with Martial scoring his third goal in his first two games with United, as reported by ESPN.
Meanwhile, the Black Cats are still winless after six tries. Their last game was a 0-2 setback in the hands of newly-promoted club Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium, as per Chronicle Live.
The call to sack Dick Advocaat had been getting louder after every loss and this match with the Red Devils may put the final nail in the coffin for the 67-year-old mentor, so to speak.
The predicted result is a 3-0 blowout for Manchester United. Rooney is back in harness after a recent bout with injury, while Martial is getting more and more comfortable in van Gaal's scheme of things, all the while proving his detractors wrong.
Manchester United starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): De Gea; Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Rojo; Schneiderlin, Mata; Depay, Carrick, Rooney; Martial
Sunderland starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Pantilimon; Coates, Jones, Kaboul, van Aanholt; Toivonen, Lens; M'Vila, Gómez, Borini; Defoe
