Tranmere vs Manchester United LIVE: Result and reaction from FA Cup fixture today

Manchester United celebrate Harry Maguire's opening goal (PA)

Manchester United thrashed third-tier Tranmere Rovers 6-0 on Sunday to join Manchester City in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

A muddy and bobbly Prenton Park pitch looked the perfect stage for a shock but Tranmere were blown away as Harry Maguire's early thunderbolt settled any United jitters.

Tranmere had knocked out Premier League Watford in a replay on Thursday but apart from an early flurry of pressure they were never in Sunday's tie as United scored five times before the break.

Diogo Dalot, who like Maguire had not scored all season, made it 2-0 after weaving into the penalty area and delivering a fierce finish before Jesse Lingard curled a right-footed shot inside the post for only his second goal of the season.

Phil Jones got in on the act with a looping header from a corner, ending his own near six-year goal drought, before Anthony Martial added a fifth goal just before the break.

It was the first time since 2001 that United had scored five before halftime and they continued the onslaught after the break when Mason Greenwood converted a 56th-minute penalty.

Earlier, holders Manchester City beat Championship side Fulham 4-0 -- a task made easier as Fulham played virtually the whole game with 10 men after Tim Ream was red-carded for conceding a penalty converted by Ilkay Gundogan.

Bernardo Silva made it 2-0 and Gabriel Jesus scored twice after the break as City reached 100 goals for the season in all competitions, the first club to do so in Europe's top leagues.

Match preview

When is it?

The match will kick-off at 3pm on Sunday 26 January.

How can I watch it?

The game will be broadcast live on BT Sport 1, with coverage beginning at 2.30pm.

Key Points

• Tranmere: Davies, Ridehalgh, Monthe, Ferrier, Morris, Jennings, Caprice, Perkins, Blackett-Taylor, Clarke, Danns
• United: Romero, Dalot, Lindelof, Maguire, Jones, Shaw, Matic, Pereira, Lingard, Martial, Greenwood

[26 January 2020 13:49 · Tom Kershaw]

Welcome to The Independent's live coverage as Manchester United travel to Prenton Park to take on Tranmere Rovers in the FA Cup fourth round.

[26 January 2020 14:11 · Lawrence Ostlere]

The teams!

Tranmere Rovers: Davies (c), Ridehalgh, Monthe, Morris, Ferrier, Jennings, Caprice, Perkins, Blackett-Taylor, Clarke, Danns

Manchester United: Romero, Dalot, Lindelof, Maguire (c), Jones, Shaw, Matic, Pereira, Lingard, Martial, Greenwood

[26 January 2020 14:13 · Lawrence Ostlere]

It looks like three centre-backs and wing-backs for Manchester United, which seems quite negative against a League One side, but perhaps it's just realistic at this point. If Martial and Greenwood fail to score, it's hard to see where United are getting a goal from today. 

[26 January 2020 14:25 · Tom Kershaw]

This weekend marks the 25th anniversary since Eric Cantona's infamous kung-fu kick. Here our Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney remembers the incident, and how it would change football forever:

[26 January 2020 14:41 · Tom Kershaw]

United are looking to avoid further embarrassment after a dire 2-0 defeat against Burnley at Old Trafford last weekend. However, as the fans begin to grow disgruntled with Solskjaer, some players are becoming restless too.

[26 January 2020 14:56 · Tom Kershaw]

Angel Gomes is at Prenton Park. However, despite speaking to the club's official media ahead of the fourth-round tie, the midfielder has not been included in Solskjaer's squad. The England U17 World Cup winner's contract expires at the end of the season and is yet to agree new terms.

Tahith Chong, whose contract also runs out this summer and is in talks with Inter Milan, is however included on the bench.

[26 January 2020 15:01 · Lawrence Ostlere]

KICK-OFF! Manchester United get the game going on what is a bog of a pitch on Merseyside. 

[26 January 2020 15:05 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Tranmere 0-0 Manchester United

3 min: Phil Jones is absolutely caked in mud. He looks like my nephew after half an hour at the park. Tranmere waste the set-piece which came from his sliding foul, but it's a bright start amid a bouncing atmosphere at Prenton Park. 

[26 January 2020 15:07 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Tranmere 0-0 Manchester United

6 min: United are enjoying a little bit of sustained possession for the first time, which is not as easy as it sounds given the surface today, which is more marshland than football pitch. There's a brief break in play as Jones goes down, but after a little treatment he looks OK to hobble on.

[26 January 2020 15:09 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Tranmere 0-0 Manchester United

9 min: A positive dart down the left by Ferrier ends with Harry Maguire clearing his cross behind for a corner. The set-piece again comes to nothing, but these are promising signs for the hosts.