Manchester United are set to begin this season’s FA Cup campaign with a match at Old Trafford, and fans and players alike would love to see this season end with them adding a twelfth FA Cup title to the team’s trophy room. There’s a long ways to go until that happens, though, and before they get there they have to take care of business on Saturday and beat Sheffield United.
Manchester United vs. Sheffield United 2016 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch FA Cup online
Manchester United get their FA Cup campaign started at home, looking to thrash a much smaller opponent and avoid being victims of the “Magic of the Cup.”
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While normally Manchester United beating a midtable side from League One would be a foregone conclusion, it’s hard to come into this match feeling safe about their chances. The Red Devils have won just one of their last nine matches across all competitions, and between key injuries and players who are out of form, there’s every reason to suspect that the dreaded “Magic of the Cup” could strike and see Louis Van Gaal’s side tumble out of the FA Cup early -- and with Sheffield coming into this match with pretty good form, you know they’ll be up for a fight to try to shock the world.
This one’s going to be a wild ride.
Key Manchester United player -- Memphis Depay
Depay has looked like he’s been suffering from a crisis of confidence at times this season, struggling to maintain positive form for very long at all. A match like this could be a good way to help get him back on the right track, giving him an easier opponent to run down and rebuild his faith in himself. Depay has a load of talent, but unless he believes that he can use it, he’s going to have problems -- and if Manchester United want to compete for the title, they need Depay to be at his best again.
Key Sheffield United player -- Billy Sharp
Sheffield’s leading scorer, Sharp has been a nuisance to opponents all season long. A hard-working player with a few tricky skills in his arsenal, he’s played well working off the bigger Conor Sammon to score vital goals for Sheffield this season -- and his four-match scoring streak has his confidence sky-high, something that will be vital in a match like this against a much superior opponent.
Match Date/Time: Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET, 5:30 p.m. local
Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester, England
TV: Fox Sports 2 (U.S. - English), Fox Deportes (U.S. - Spanish), Sportsnet World (Canada), BT Sport 2 (U.K.)
Online: Fox Soccer 2 Go, Fox Sports Go (U.S.), Sportsnet World Now (Canada)
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