Manchester United prepare to take on Ipswich Town in what could now be seen as a crucial six-pointer. Once upon a time, there was only one outcome with this fixture. Now, it is anyone's guess as to what the scoreline might read at the end of the 90 minutes.
It was Ruben Amorim's first game in charge of Man United back in Novemeber when these two sides last met. The score ended 1-1 after an extremely promising start to the game saw Marcus Rashford open the scoring inside 80 seconds!
The euphoria then quickly fizzled out as it took an outstanding Andre Onana display to keep United from dropping all three points to the newly promoted side.
Last time out in the Premier League it took two late goals to see the Reds come back from going 2-0 down to Everton in the first half.
The score ended 2-2 after a brilliantly taken free kick from skipper Bruno Fernandes and a superb volley from inside the area from Manuel Ugarte. A draw was the best United could have asked for after one of the worst first half performances of the season.
Ipswich's last fixture saw them host Tottenham as they were run off the park by Ange Postecoglou's side in a disappointing 4-1 thrashing.
With Manchester United sitting 15th in the Premier League table and 13 points off Ipswich in the relegation zone, it is crucial that they get all three points to extend their distance from the drop.
It has never been a consideration in anyone's thoughts that the mighty Man United could fall so much, however, the reality is this season their standard has dropped to an all-time low and these games against 'lower' opposition are crucial for Amorim and his side.
The question is what does Ruben Amorim have to change to get his side back to winning ways and progressing up the table, and what does he have to do to overcome Kieran McKenna's side?
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Higher intensity needed!
A key theme of lack of urgency and intensity is common when watching United play this season.
They seem to struggle to get themselves up for games that aren't against a traditional 'big six' side and seem to wait till the final stages of the game to show any real fight and determination. This was evident in their game against Everton on Saturday.
It took two goals from the Toffees and 70 minutes of play for United to turn up.
This can not be the case against Ipswich, as when playing against a side with a striker as clinical as Liam Delap and wingers with real technical ability like Omari Hutchinson, the game will be over before United get out of first gear.
Pressing high, showing real energy and playing on the front foot will be the key to getting the 3 points, especially with the backing of the Old Trafford crowd.
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Chido Obi's time to shine?
One standout that United are clearly missing is the lack of a consistent talisman. With the likes of Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee still failing to lead the line and the team in terms of goals, this could open an opportunity for Chido Obi to have his first start in a Manchester United shirt this Wednesday evening.
The Danish-born striker has an outstanding record for the academy, leading the all time goal record in U18 Premier League history. Given a chance in front of goal he has shown he is prolific and not afraid to try different types of finishes.
He has recently featured in the last two matchday squads against Spurs and Everton in which he was given 20 minutes last time out. Despite not having the best of cameos, likely due to nerves, he was still on the pitch and contributed to the team's late comeback.
Maybe putting a new name on the team sheet against Ipswich will spark a fight within the squad that they need to get the three points and bring back some confidence in the dressing room.
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Keeping Liam Delap quiet
The United backline and Andre Onana need to be on top form against The Tractor Boys if they want to improve their poor clean sheet record this season.
Ipswich number nine, Liam Delap, has scored 10 goals so far this campaign and has been a key player in a struggling side. His pace and physicality along with his excellent movement in the box will pose a real threat for United's defence and they will need to be on full alert to keep his contribution to a minimal.
Delap signed for Ipswich at the start of the season after being a product of the Man City academy. He is expected to be on a number of team's lists for the summer transfer window due to his unique profile and potential and would be someone the likes of Manchester United could really use at the goal end of their side.
