The Lowdown: Ole Gunnar Solskjær's Free Scoring Manchester United
The Premier League encounter on Filbert Way sees two sides separated by just one point go head-to-head, following weekend victories that elevated them both in the top flight.
Ahead of their latest meeting, LCFC.com takes an in-depth look at City's next opponents, including their squad, manager and current form...
The team
Manchester United’s star-studded squad contains 2018 FIFA World Cup winner Paul Pogba and Spain goalkeeper David de Gea, among others, and includes several supremely talented youngsters.
The Red Devils also possess a wealth of English international experience, including attackers Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood, and former Fox Harry Maguire, who is now club captain.
United's excellent recent form has been spearheaded by the goalscoring prowess of Rashford (5) and summer signing Edison Cavani (3), as well as Portuguese playmaker Bruno Fernandes.
He has already netted on nine occasions for the Manchester club this season, putting him fifth in the Premier League's goalscoring chart. His total of five assists, meanwhile, is the fourth most in the division.
Left-back Alex Telles has also made an impact since joining from FC Porto for a reported £13.5M, while Dutch midfielder Donny van de Beek, highly rated during his time at Ajax, is yet to break through to the starting XI since his £35M move from the Amsterdam club.
The manager
Ole Gunnar Solskjær was named permanent Manchester United manager in March 2019 after taking over as a caretaker following José Mourinho’s departure in December 2018.
Solskjær’s first 19 games saw him record a stunning 14 victories and two draws, winning his first eight matches in charge and registering more points than any other team during that period.
An iconic striker for the Red Devils across an 11-year period, he netted 126 goals in 366 appearances under the management of Sir Alex Ferguson, who oversaw a trophy-laden 27-year spell in Manchester, and Solskjær famously scored an injury-time winner in the UEFA Champions League Final against Bayern Munich, after coming off the bench to help United win the treble in 1999.
Another memorable appearance from the substitutes' bench saw him score four times in 12 minutes as United beat Nottingham Forest 8-1 in February 1999, which was the largest away win in the history of the Premier League until Leicester City's 9-0 victory at Southampton 20 years later. He also starred on 67 occasions for Norway, netting 23 goals for his country.
Solskjær retired in 2007 and coached United's reserve team until 2010 before two separate spells at Norwegian club Molde – either side of nine months at Cardiff City – led to him winning two league titles and the Norwegian Football Cup.
Initially taking over at Old Trafford on a temporary basis in 2019, the 47-year-old then agreed a three-year-deal to become permanent manager. He won two of his remaining 10 fixtures in 2018/19 to seal a sixth-placed finish.
In 2019/20, however, Solskjær's side finished third in the table to secure a UEFA Champions League return, though they were 33 points adrift of champions Liverpool.
The Norwegian also guided the Red Devils to semi-finals in the Emirates FA Cup, Carabao Cup and UEFA Europa League, before last four exits in all three.
Form guide
Manchester United's scintillating recent form continued last Sunday with a 6-2 victory over rivals Leeds United at Old Trafford.
Scott McTominay scored twice within the first three minutes, before Victor Lindelöf, Daniel James and a brace from Bruno Fernandes completed the rout.
The Red Devils have also won their last six away league fixtures, despite falling behind in every game. The most recent of those was a 3-2 win against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, secured thanks to goals from Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford (2).
Previous encounters
The Manchester club came out on top in both Premier League clashes last season, firstly winning 1-0 at Old Trafford on 14 September, 2019, courtesy of Marcus Rashford's early penalty.
The reverse fixture, which was the final game of the 2019/20 campaign, ended 2-0 and confirmed the Red Devils' place in the top four.
Again it was a penalty, this time from Bruno Fernandes, that had United ahead, before Jesse Lingard's injury-time second.
A more memorable fixture at home to the Red Devils was the 5-3 victory for Nigel Pearson's newly-promoted side in September 2014, which included Jamie Vardy's first-ever Premier League goal and strikes from David Nugent, Esteban Cambiasso and Leonardo Ulloa (2).
The trophy cabinet
Manchester United’s unprecedented Premier League success has seen them crowned champions of England on 13 occasions since the league’s reformation in 1992, and 20 times in total.
They have also won 12 FA Cups, with their latest coming in 2015/16 to set up a Community Shield clash with Leicester City at Wembley Stadium in 2016, and five League Cups.
On the European front, Man Utd have won three UEFA Champions League trophies, with the last coming in 2008 when they beat Chelsea on penalties in Moscow.
They have also won the UEFA Europa League once, in 2017, when they beat Ajax 2-0 in Stockholm, thanks to goals from Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Alongside their memorable 1999 treble victory, they have won the domestic double a further two times – in 1994 and 1996 – and have won two European doubles, including their 2008 Premier League and Champions League triumph.
The stadium
Old Trafford, holding 75,000 seats, is the second-largest football stadium in England, with only Wembley Stadium boasting a higher capacity.
Manchester United’s home since 1910, Old Trafford was nicknamed ‘The Theatre Of Dreams’ by legendary Red Devils forward Sir Bobby Charlton, who in 2016 saw the south stand named in his honour.
The north stand, meanwhile, is named after the most successful manager of all time, Sir Alex Ferguson, who over a 27-year period won 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League titles.
In 2016, the Foxes secured a 1-1 draw in Manchester, which following a 2-2 draw between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, was enough to see them crowned as Premier League champions.
The fixtures
After their trip to King Power Stadium, United are back at home for a triple header of fixtures at Old Trafford. First up, it's Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday 29 December, followed by Aston Villa on New Year's Day (both 8pm kick-offs).
Then comes United's Emirates FA Cup Third Round tie with Sky Bet Championship side Watford on Saturday 9 January, also a 8pm kick-off.
After that, the Red Devils will turn their attention back to the Premier League for a crunch clash with Liverpool on Sunday 17 January (4:30pm kick-off), while Fulham (A), Sheffield United (H) and Arsenal (A) complete their January schedule.
All times GMT.