Manchester United seek first EPL win today

Manchester United's Belgian midfielder Adnan Januzaj (L) vies with Swansea City's English midfielder Wayne Routledge during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Swansea City at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England on August 16, 2014. Swansea City won the game 2-1. AFP

Manchester United will go in search of their first Premier League win under manager Louis van Gaal when they travel to Sunderland on Sunday.

If there was any doubt about the scale of the task facing the Dutchman, it was demonstrated by last weekend’s 2-1 opening day defeat at home to Swansea.

Sunderland will fancy their chances at the Stadium of Light despite the fact United signed Argentina World Cup defender Marcos Rojo from Sporting Lisbon in midweek.

Paul Scholes believes it will take more than one big-name signing to revive their fortunes.

“I am scared for United. Genuinely scared that they could go into the wilderness in the same way that Liverpool did in the 1990s.”

He added: “What do United need? Five players. Not five players with potential. Five experienced players... for now.

Meanwhile United’s Marouane Fellaini suffered suspected ankle ligament damage in training.

The Belgian, signed by sacked United manager David Moyes following the pair’s time together at Everton, has still to score a competitive goal for United.

Fellaini has joined a lengthy injury list that includes Michael Carrick, Jonny Evans, Danny Welbeck, Antonio Valencia, Luke Shaw and Tom Cleverley, all of whom missed the Swansea defeat.

But star striker Robin van Persie is nearing full fitness and could feature against Sunderland.

Chelsea will look to carry on from where they left off in 3-1 win away to Burnley when they face another newly-promoted side in Leicester at Stamford Bridge today.

The day’s stand-out fixture sees FA Cup-holders Arsenal travel to Everton, with Gunners manager Arsene Wenger saying: “We have started well in the Premier League and we want of course straight away to have a good result away from home.

Newcastle will try to bounce back from defeat by champions Man City away to Aston Villa while managerless Crystal Palace face West Ham in an all-London clash.

Southampton are at home to West Brom while Swansea will look to make it two wins out of two when they welcome Burnley.

Sunday also sees QPR manager Harry Redknapp return to former club Tottenham Hotspur while Hull face Stoke.

Rounding off the second round of fixtures, Manchester City face Liverpool -- the team they pipped to the title by just two points last season -- at Eastlands on Monday, with the possibility that former City striker Mario Balotelli could by then be a Reds player if a reported £16 million move from AC Milan goes through.

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