English Premier
2026-08-30 - Manchester United vs Ipswich Town
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Sunday 30th August 2026 - Kick Off 4:30pm
This game is live on TV
Manchester United
Michael Carrick may not have been having any discussion about the intensity of his Manchester United team following the 2-0 defeat at Hull City, but it is a worrying setback to open the new season. The 3rd place finish in the Premier League meant the board backed Carrick to take over as permanent manager, but the performance on the opening day of the season is one that will have plenty of fans concerned about the season ahead.
It is too early to make major statements about a manager or a team after one fixture, but concerns have been raised about the level of Manchester United's performances under Michael Carrick, especially away from Old Trafford. Results had papered over the cracks often times, although Manchester United did play well at Old Trafford after Carrick took over from Ruben Amorim and only the top two won more home League games last season.
Manchester United ended last season unbeaten in 6 Premier League games and had won 5 of those, but the defeat at Hull City has felt like a real punch in the guts. The side played 9 home Premier League games after Michael Carrick took over as manager and Manchester United won 8 of those with the exception being a defeat to Leeds United.
Amad picked up a knock in training before the opening day of the season and it is set to keep him on the sidelines until after the September international break. Mason Mount is a doubt, while Matthijs de Ligt may not be quite ready to return having just got back into training. Diogo Dalot and Marcus Rashford will be pushing for starts, while new signing Carlos Baleba is dealing with an injury and the debut may be delayed until September.
Ipswich Town
Gary O'Neil will know how much Kieran McKenna is appreciated by the Ipswich Town fans and that means stepping into some big boots to fill as manager of the club in the return to the Premier League. The first week could not have gone much better for O'Neil with Ipswich Town winning both fixtures played at Portman Road, but there are plenty of challenges to come over the next nine months if this club are going to survive in the top flight.
They had to wait until the last game of the calendar year to win a Premier League game at home the last time Ipswich Town were in the top flight two years ago and so the three points already secured is a big boost. The Tractor Boys had the joint fewest away wins in the top nine of the Championship last season (9) and will need to be more competitive on their travels if they are going to accumulate enough points to avoid an immediate relegation.
Ipswich Town scored very late on to beat Sunderland last weekend and then had to battle to beat Leicester City in the League Cup Second Round. The side are now unbeaten in 7 games in all competitions, while Ipswich Town finished last season with a single win from the last 4 away Championship fixtures played.
The manager rang the changes for the League Cup win over League One Leicester City, but will be hoping Florentino Luis is available to travel to Old Trafford on Sunday.
Head to Head
Ipswich Town were the hosts in Ruben Amorim's first game in charge of Manchester United in November 2024 in what turned out to be a 1-1 draw.
Later that season, Manchester United overcame being reduced to ten men in the first half to beat Ipswich Town 3-2 at Old Trafford.
It is a result that means Manchester United have beaten this opponent 5 times in a row at Old Trafford, a run that began with a 9-0 victory back in March 1995.
Prediction
It is very difficult to imagine a scenario that would have been more disappointing for Manchester United fans on the opening day of the season than losing to a newly promoted club that had earned their spot via the Play Offs the previous May.
The defeat did occur away from home and so only a loss at Old Trafford would have been worse, but that is what potentially awaits Manchester United if they are not much better than last weekend when hosting Ipswich Town on Sunday.
Losing at Hull City in the manner they did is a bitter blow and it backs up some of the underlying data of the Manchester United away performances under Michael Carrick last season. Results had remained stronger, but Manchester United had not been very convincing in earning some of those and so there is work to do.
A positive for the fans is that Manchester United had been much better at Old Trafford and they have had a week of training to put the result at Hull City behind them.
Manchester United will be able to create chances at Old Trafford and they will expect the new look midfield to dictate play. There should also have been a real effort at making sure United do not give away set piece goals like they did at the MKM Stadium, which would then allow the attacking players to flourish.
Gary O'Neil's Ipswich Town have made a fine start to the new season with wins over Sunderland and Leicester City at Portman Road, but this is a much stiffer test for the players. Two years ago, Ipswich Town lost 6 of the 10 away games played at teams that finished in the top half of the Premier League table and that remains a significant gap to bridge.
The manager is experienced in the Premier League with clubs fighting to avoid relegation and that will help, but Ipswich Town may struggle to contain a Manchester United team who have been comfortable playing at Old Trafford.
A first game of the season here should mean a vibrant atmosphere produced by the fans, despite the loss in Yorkshire last Saturday, and Manchester United's attacking players can showcase their qualities in winning for a 9th time in 10 games at Old Trafford under the current manager.
Most have been wins by narrow margins, but 3 of those 9 victories came by at least two goals and this feels like a weekend in which a big response from the home players has to be expected.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Manchester United 2-0 Ipswich Town
