Man United v Sunderland live: Ruben Amorim responds to sack rumours before high-pressure Premier League match – UK Times

Ruben Amorim’s side have won their last two home matches at Old Trafford, beating Burnley and Chelsea, and are on the hunt for three consecutive home wins for the first time since between April and August 2023.

But last weekend’s defeat at Brentford means they have just seven points from their first six games of the season and places all the pressure back on Amorim – ahead of what is his 50th game in charge of United.

After a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest last weekend, Sunderland have made the best start by a newly promoted side since West Ham in 2012-13, picking up 11 points from their first six games of the season. They need just one point to equal Southampton’s total of 12 from last season.

Sunderland results so far

W – Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

L – Burnley 2-0 Sunderland

W – Sunderland 2-1 Brentford

D – Crystal Palace 0-0 Sunderland

D – Sunderland 1-1 Aston Villa

W – Nottingham Forest 0-1 Sunderland

Nordi Mukiele is fit and available for selection in a boost for Sunderland but the Black Cats remain without Romaine Mundle, Leo Hjelde, Aji Alese and Dennis Cirkin.

Possible Sunderland line-up: Roefs; Hume, Mukieke, Alderete, Masuaku; Xhaka, Sadiki, Adingra, Rigg, Le Fee; Isidor

Casemiro is available after serving a one-match suspension while Amad Diallo returns to the squad following a family bereavement that meant he missed the defeat at Brentford.

Noussair Mazraoui will be out until after the international break while Lisandro Martinez is a long-term absentee.

Senne Lammens is yet to make his first appearance with Altay Bayindir starting between the posts in last week’s 3-1 defeat at Brentford.

Possible line-up: Bayindir; Yoro, De Ligt, Shaw; Dalot, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mbeumo, Cunha; Sesko

Sunderland are enjoying a fine return to the Premier League and enter the weekend sitting fifth in the table and unbeaten in four games.

Regis Le Bris’s side have kept clean sheets in two of their last three games, including an away win at Nottingham Forest last time out, so confidence is high ahead of a first trip to Old Trafford since Boxing Day 2016.

Defeat at Brentford last weekend has once again increased the spotlight on Amorim, with United in the now familiar position of needing to bounce back at home following a disappointing away performance.

Amorim’s players delivered in the recent wins over Burnley and Chelsea but with an international break around the corner, the Portuguese head coach desperately needs another result to build some momentum.