The week ahead for Reds

Another busy week is on the cards for everybody at Manchester United as we have games across three levels and plenty more to look forward to.

MONDAY

There will, no doubt, be some recovery work after Sunday's intense and hard-fought 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley, while some of the youngsters will return having competed in the Sparkasse & VGH Cup in Germany over the weekend. Of course, there should be a chance to begin a decent spell of work in preparation for our next Premier League game, against Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford on Saturday.

TUESDAY

There's an afternoon match for the Under-18s, with the Premier League North match away to Stoke City at 13:00 GMT brought forward from the weekend in readiness for the big FA Youth Cup tie with Brighton on Monday 21 January. Unfortunately, due to the location of the pitch at Clayton Wood, the game cannot be screened live on MUTV but there will be highlights screened on the official channel. Also, on this day in 2005, we beat fierce rivals Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield thanks to a goal by Wayne Rooney.

WEDNESDAY

It's the 20th anniversary of when United continued displaying fine form in the Treble season with a resounding 6-2 victory at Leicester City. Dutch defender Jaap Stam scored his only goal for the club, while Dwight Yorke also bagged a hat-trick.

THURSDAY

Two years ago on this date, United beat Liverpool 1-0 on their home patch. The goalscorer? That man Rooney again, who did the business for Louis van Gaal’s side. Elsewhere, Ricky Sbragia’s Under-23s are in action again with a Premier League International Cup tie against PSV Eindhoven at Leigh Sports Village (19:00 GMT kick-off). The Reds drew our opening match in the three-team group, at Derby, with a game against Paris Saint-Germain still to come on 25 January.

FRIDAY

Caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is likely to hold his press conference to preview the visit of Brighton. We should discover the latest team news for the Old Trafford encounter, with the time of the media briefing yet to be confirmed.

SATURDAY

It’s matchday at the Theatre of Dreams and a traditional 15:00 GMT kick-off to relish. Brighton have beaten us twice at their home in the past two seasons but we did overcome the Seagulls in both the Premier League and Emirates FA Cup at Old Trafford in 2017/18.

SUNDAY

A time to remember the legendary Sir Matt Busby, who sadly passed away on 20 January some 25 years ago. The Scot survived the Munich Air Disaster, despite receiving serious injuries, and rebuilt his team to achieve European glory. A decade ago, United beat Derby County 4-2 in the League Cup semi-final second leg at Old Trafford, winning 4-3 on aggregate, to clinch a place the final. Meanwhile, Lou Macari made his United debut on this day in 1973, in a 2-2 draw at home to West Ham United in the old First Division, and United Women midfielder Katie Zelem will celebrate her 23rd birthday.