Man Utd v Rangers LIVE: Team news and lineups as British giants clash in Europa League

Manchester United host Rangers in Europa League this evening, with Reuben Amorim‘s side are looking to make a move towards the last 16 at Old Trafford.

United lost 3-1 to Brighton last weekend and have little else to fight for in the league, but Europa League offering a chance to save their season.

Winning the competition looks like United’s only hope of getting anywhere near European football next season, and while it looks far-fetched at present, Amorim will want to get through to the last 16 with minimal fuss.

United are seventh in the league table ahead of kick-off and face a Rangers side who are a point and a place below them despite their home games.

Follow all the latest build-up and squad news from Old Trafford below:

Man Utd vs Rangers LIVE

• Manchester United host Rangers in the Europa League with kick-off at 20:00 | Live on TNT Sports

• United are in seventh place, in the automatic qualification places with one point

• Rangers are one place and one point below the hosts in the league stage table

Manchester United FC – Rangers FC

Big night for Collyer

19:07 , Richard Jolly

More of a Battle of Britain than the Battle of Britain, given that Rangers played Tottenham in their last Europa League game, but their visit to Old Trafford has added spice. It’s a big night for Toby Collyer, whose only previous Manchester United start came against Barnsley and at left-back. His team must win. United could do without the play-off round instead of stumbling into it.

Marcus Rashford is out of the squad again

19:05 , Will Castle

Marcus Rashford will not return to the Manchester United fold as Ruben Amorim leaves him out of the squad again.

Rashford declared in December that he was “ready for a new challenge” and has since made the squad just once, watching from the bench during their 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle last month.

Borussia Dortmund, Juventus and AC Milan are among those reported as potential suitors, but The independent understand that a permanent move is unlikely this month.

When are the Europa League playoffs drawn?

19:00 , Will Castle

As we enter the penultimate match week in Europa League league stage, the format of the competition will soon see its new play-offs format in action for the first time in February, to determine which teams enter the last 16 knockout round.

The top eight teams in the final table of the Europa League league automatically advance to the round of 16. They are joined by the play-offs: a set of eight two-legged ties between the clubs that finished between ninth and 24th in the league standings.

The draw for the Europa League play-offs takes place on 31 January 2025. It will take place shortly after the Champions League draw, so it is expected to be around 18:00 GMT.

When is the Europa League drawn? Date, start time, TV and new format

Who’s doing the benches tonight?

18:59 , Will Castle

Here are the substitutes for both teams tonight.

Manchester United: Onana, Heaton; Maguire, Malacia, Mazraoui, Casemiro, Ugarte, Mainoo, Antony, Hojlund.

Rangers: Kelly, Mouth; King, Hutton, Dowell, Rice, Curtis, Nsio, McCausland, Lawrence, Dessers, Lovelace.

Confirmed team news

18:55 , Will Castle

Manchester United XI: Bayindir; Yoro, De Ligt, Martinez; Diallo, Eriksen, Collyer, Amad; Garnacho, Fernandes, Zirkzee

Rangers XI: Butland; Tavernier, Propper, Balogun, Jefte; Barron, Raskin; Ridvan, Bajrami, Cerny; Igamane

Status will come in tonight

18:50 , Will Castle

United sit seventh in the Europa League table with 12 points from their opening six games and the fact that they are well placed to qualify for the last 16 is largely down to Ruud van Nistelrooy, who oversaw their first win of the campaign, while he was caretaker. .

He ended three straight draws as United secured a 2-0 home win over PAOK Salonika, with Amad Diallo scoring both goals.

Rangers are one place and one point behind them in the league table after three wins, two draws and one defeat from their six games so far.

That loss came at home to Lyon, but they have beaten Malmö and Nice away, and FCSB at home also drew 1-1 with Tottenham at Ibrox last time out, so they won’t be a pushover for United.

Both will be keen to plant a foot in the last 16 this evening.

Manchester United’s first recruit from the troubled Ruben Amorim era

18:40 , Will Castle

Manchester United are interested in signing Patrick Dorgu from Lecce as they look to make a wing back the first recruit of Reuben Amorim era.

The 20-year-old Denmark international, who has won four caps, is on United’s radar as they look for signings to suit Amorim’s style of play.

Dorgu, an international teammate of Rasmus Hojlund, broke into Lecce’s team last season and could address United’s lack of left-footed options on that flank.

Man Utd identify first transfer recruit of troubled Ruben Amorim era

Amorim badly needs a boost

18:30 , Will Castle

United boss Ruben Amorim pulled no punches after watching his side lose 3-1 at home to Brighton on Sunday to make it a home win from their last five.

It was also the seventh defeat since Amorim took over as manager in November, prompting him to describe the team as “perhaps the worst” in the club’s 147-year history.

Those quotes have drawn criticism from all directions, but perhaps they will have the desired effect when they take on Rangers tonight.

Predicted lineups

18:20 , Will Castle

Man Utd XI: Masturbation; de Ligt, Maguire, Martinez; Mazraoui, Collyer, Mainoo, Dalot; Amad, Fernandes; Højlund.

Rangers XI: Kelly; Yilmaz, Propper, Nsiala, Jefte; Diomande, Raskin; Cerny, Danilo, Hagi; Igamane.

Rangers team news

18:10 , Will Castle

Goalkeeper Jack Butland remains out, as do John Souttar, Neraysho Kasanwirjo and Danilo, who was injured last week against Aberdeen.

However, captain James Tavernier should be available after returning at the weekend in the Scottish Cup.

Man United team news

18:00 , Will Castle

United have no fresh injury concerns after the loss to Brighton, although Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof and Mason Mount all remain sidelined.

Amorim may opt to rest some players in key positions, with Toby Collyer and Christian Eriksen potentially starting in midfield.

In attack, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund could return, while it remains to be seen whether Amorim wants to use Tyrell Malacia and Antony with both reportedly on the brink of a loan move.

Odds for tonight’s match

17:50 , Will Castle

Man Utd to win 21/50

Draw 7/2

Rangers win 13/2

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When is kick-off?

17:40 , Will Castle

Man Utd vs Rangers starts at 20:00 GMT on Thursday 23 January at Old Trafford.

How can I see it?

Viewers in the UK can watch the match live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage on the channel from Subscribers can also stream via discovery+.

Manchester United vs Rangers LIVE

17:30 , Will Castle

Good evening and welcome to The independent live coverage of tonight’s Europa League clash between Manchester United and Rangers.

Ruben Amorim’s side are looking to move a step closer to the last 16 – but they will need to do better than they did at the weekend, when another dismal performance saw them lose at home to Brighton.

Both teams are fighting to avoid the knockouts, with Rangers just one point behind United in the league table.

We have all the latest builds and reactions right here.