Man United’s Kenilworth Road Return: Ten Hag Nears Mourinho Record
Manchester United are set to face Luton Town this weekend as they aim to continue their recent momentum and close the gap to the top four. The Red Devils have been unbeaten in all competitions so far in 2024 and this will be their first visit to Kenilworth Road in 32 years.
Erik ten Hag’s side has recently secured late away wins at Wolves and Aston Villa, reigniting their push to retain Champions League football. Currently, Man United are just five points behind Tottenham in fourth place and they will look to extend their dominant record over Luton.
In fact, the Old Trafford outfit has not lost in their last 12 meetings with Luton in all competitions since a 2-1 defeat at Kenilworth Road in 1987. Ten Hag himself has an impressive record against newly promoted clubs, winning all nine of his Premier League games against them. This makes him the manager with the best 100 percent win ratio against such sides in Premier League history.
Luton Town has proven to be a stern challenge for top teams like Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal at home this season. However, they suffered a 3-1 defeat to bottom side Sheffield United in their last match, which may have dented their confidence.
One key decision that Ten Hag will have to make is whether to restore Scott McTominay to the starting line-up. The midfielder has been a super-sub for Man United, scoring important goals off the bench. He scored an 86th-minute winner in their recent victory against Aston Villa and has a total of eight goals in all competitions this season, making him the club’s second-highest scorer.
Interestingly, data shows that Man United performs better when McTominay’s role is reduced to an impact substitute. The team has a 50 percent win rate with him in the line-up compared to 77 percent with him as a substitute. McTominay himself has also scored more goals when coming off the bench, with three of his five Premier League goals this season proving to be match-winners.
Another player to watch out for is Rasmus Hojlund. After failing to score in his first 14 Premier League appearances, he has scored one goal in each of his last five matches. If he scores in this game, he will become the youngest ever player to score in six consecutive matches.
The team news for both sides reveals that Luton is missing Mads Andersen, Tom Lockyer, and Marvelous Nakamba. On the other hand, Man United is without Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia, Anthony Martial, and Mason Mount. However, Aaron Wan-Bissaka is nearing a return from injury.
Looking back at the history between the two clubs, Luton has lost nine of their last 10 league games against Manchester United. Their only exception was a 1-1 draw the last time they faced each other at Kenilworth Road in April 1992.
The game will take place on Sunday, February 18, with kick-off scheduled for 4:30pm at Kenilworth Road. It will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. TalkSPORT will provide live updates throughout the afternoon, and a live blog will also be available on talkSPORT.com.
In conclusion, Manchester United’s visit to Kenilworth Road after 32 years is an exciting prospect for both teams. Ten Hag’s side will be looking to continue their unbeaten run and close the gap to the top four, while Luton will aim to bounce back from a defeat and put up a strong challenge against a dominant Man United. The inclusion of McTominay and the goalscoring form of Hojlund will be key factors to watch out for in this match.