Things In Store For 2017

As another eventful year for Manchester United draws to a close, we look ahead to what's in store for the Reds in 2017…

STAM RETURNS FOR CUP DEFENCE
The defence of the FA Cup that United memorably won for the 12th time in May begins with a third-round encounter against Championship outfit Reading on 7 January, as Treble-winning defender Jaap Stam brings his Royals side to Old Trafford. We last faced them in this competition as recently as 2013, when goals from Nani and Javier Hernandez secured a 2-1 home win in the fifth round.

WEMBLEY CALLING?
Having disposed of Northampton Town, Manchester City and West Ham United in the previous rounds, the Reds take on Hull City in the two-legged EFL Cup semi-final early in 2017. We host the Tigers on 10 January and visit the KCOM Stadium 16 days later; victory would book a return to Wembley for the 26 February final and the opportunity to lift this trophy for the first time since 2010.

OLD RIVALS COMING TO OLD TRAFFORD
In between the last-four games against Mike Phelan’s Hull side, high-flying Liverpool visit Old Trafford in the Premier League. October’s reverse fixture at Anfield finished goalless but the result in this mouth-watering battle could have a significant bearing on the top-four aspirations of both sides. It’ll be the 198th clash between these famous old rivals and the 94th meeting at the Theatre of Dreams.

ROONEY ON THE CUSP
Wayne Rooney has been sat one goal behind Sir Bobby Charlton’s record of 249 since November, but only a fool would bet against the skipper equalling and then eclipsing that mark in the remaining games of 2016/17, to become the club’s all-time top scorer. It’ll be a day to savour for the celebrated front man.

EURO STARS
United’s Europa League adventure has been an enjoyable one so far and it continues with an encounter against Saint-Etienne in the Round of 32. The French outfit visit Manchester United on Thursday 16 February, with the return leg taking place at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on the following Wednesday. Jose Mourinho has repeatedly stated how seriously the Reds are taking this competition, which offers the winners a place in next season’s Champions League.

ZLATAN'S ON FIRE
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has already matched the 17-goal tally of last season’s top scorer Anthony Martial and is showing no signs of slowing down – indeed, he’s found the net 11 times in his last 10 appearances. Could the decorated Swede reach 30 goals for the campaign in all competitions, a figure last achieved for the Reds by Robin van Persie in 2012/13?

DERBY DAY: PART III
The third Manchester derby of the season is scheduled to take place at the Etihad Stadium in late February. The match is currently slated for 26 February but will move if United reach the EFL Cup final. Pep Guardiola’s Blues withstood a brave Reds fightback to win 2-1 at Old Trafford in September’s league game but Juan Mata’s goal gave Mourinho’s men victory in the EFL Cup at the same venue the following month. 

DE GEA'S 250
David De Gea is two appearances away from becoming only the seventh goalkeeper to play 250 games for United, after Alex Stepney (539), Peter Schmeichel (398), Gary Bailey (375), Alfred Steward (326), Harry Moger and Edwin van der Sar (both 266). If all goes to plan, the Spaniard will reach the milestone in the opening game of 2017, away to West Ham.

YOUNGSTERS' PROGRESS
Followers of United’s Under-18 team have been thrilled to watch Kieran McKenna’s free-scoring side, who are challenging Manchester City for the Academy title after racking up 46 goals in 16 games so far. The FA Youth Cup exit to Southampton earlier this month was a disappointment but we’re looking forward to seeing further progress from exciting prospects such as Angel Gomes, Callum Gribbin, Indy Boonen, Tahith Chong and DJ Buffonge – to name but five. 

500 SCORERS?
After Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan netted their first goals for United in 2016 we need seven more players to do the same in order to reach the significant landmark of 500 different scorers in the club's history (not including own goals). It seems unlikely that we'll get there in 2017 but you never know…

TITLE RUN-IN
While breaking into the top four has to be the Reds' goal in the short term, if the team can maintain the current winning momentum, who knows what could happen in the second half of the campaign? Chelsea may be setting the pace at the top of the table but nobody at United has thrown in the towel yet. One thing’s for sure: we’re set for an exciting climax to the season.