Manchester United vs Middlesbrough live: What time does it start, what TV channel is it on and where can I watch it?
A look ahead to the Premier League fixture at Old Trafford
The master meets the apprentice at Old Trafford as Aitor Karanka and his Middlesbrough team travel to face Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United.
Karanka worked under Mourinho during his ill-fated three-year spell at Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013 and still considers the Portuguese to be “a real friend”.
Both men, however, will be hoping for three points, with the hosts looking to extend their Premier League winning streak to five games after Monday’s victory over Sunderland.
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It’s a big game for…
Victor Valdes: The Middlesbrough goalkeeper is going back to Old Trafford where he failed to get much game time under Louis Van Gaal. The Spaniard will be looking to prove to his former employers that he can still do a job between the sticks.
Best stat…
100: This will be the hundredth meeting between Manchester United and Middlesbrough with the former taking 50 wins, Middlesbrough 22 and the 27 other fixtures ending in draws.
Remember when...
Gaizka Mendieta scored the fourth goal in a remarkable 4-1 drubbing of United back in 2005, co-incidentally the last time Boro have triumphed over the Manchester club.
Player to watch…
Henrikh Mkhitaryan: The fan favourite has really impressed since being given more game time by Jose Mourinho. In his first game back from injury on Boxing Day he netted that ingenious scorpion kick in the closing moments. Boro will need to keep the Armenian playmaker quiet to quell any attacks from the hosts.
Past three meetings…
Manchester United 0 Middlesbrough 0 (Middlesbrough win on penalties), EFL Cup, October 2015
Middlesbrough 0 Manchester United 2 (Giggs, Park Ji Sung), Premier League, May 2009
Manchester United 1 (Berbatov) Middlesbrough 0, EFL Cup, December 2008
Form guide…
Manchester United: DWWWWW
Middlesbrough: DWLLWL
Vital information…
KICK-OFF TIME: 15:00, Saturday 31 December 2016
TV: Highlights on Match of the Day, BBC TWO – 10pm
Odds…
Manchester United to win: 2/7
Middlesbrough: 12/1
Draw: 5/1
Hello and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of this afternoon's Premier League action. There's plenty to keep us occupied, with leaders Chelsea hosting Stoke City and Manchester United at home to Middlesbrough. Elsewhere, champions/relegation battlers Leicester City take on West Ham, Burnley host Sunderland, it's Southampton v West Brom and Swansea against Bournemouth.
We'll be bringing you the team news from all today's 3pm kick-offs shortly.
Chelsea v Stoke City
Diego Costa is back from suspension for the Premier League leaders, as is N'Golo Kante. Nemanja Matic is on the bench.
Jose Mourinho has made five changes to his Manchester United side from the one which beat Sunderland last time out.
Wayne Rooney misses the game through injury.
In come Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly at centre-back, while Marouanne Fellaini, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Anthony Martial all start at Old Trafford.
Confirmation that Pedro misses out for Chelsea today through suspension.
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