Form guide: Manchester United vs Reading (FA Cup)

Manchester United have been flying in the domestic cup competitions this season, and today they will look to continue this good run of form in the cups.

Having all but secured their place in the Carabao Cup final, Manchester United will look to continue the charge towards an FA Cup final as they host Reading, having comfortably dispatched Everton in the last round.

The last two times United faced the Royals was in this competition in the 2018/19 and 2016/17 seasons, and it was the latter game in which Wayne Rooney equalled the Manchester United goalscoring record with his 249th goal for the club. United won very comfortably by a scoreline of 4-0 on that day and will be hoping for something similar today.

Read More: Latest team news as Manchester United welcome Reading in the FA Cup

Here are how the two teams’ form shapes up coming into the tie:

Manchester United

Last five games: W, L, D, W, W

Manchester United hit a rocky patch of form last week, conceding goals in the 90th minute to draw against Crystal Palace and then lose to Arsenal, but took some steps to recovery with a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup semi-final first leg.

Despite the turbulence at points, United have remained on an upward trajectory under Erik ten Hag and the win on Trentside will allow United to rotate things around a little in this game and the next, with an extremely busy February facing them.

Although Ten Hag will want a comfortable win, with the FA Cup looking like a real opportunity for silverware, and today poses a great opportunity to put the recent dip in form behind them for good. A return for Jadon Sancho could also be on the cards, and it would be a welcome one.

Reading

Last five games: L, D, W, L, D

The Royals have picked up just one win in their last five, being hammered 4-0 by Stoke City a week ago. This season has been a difficult one for the club due to some financial issues in recent years, and they sit 14th in the Championship.

Given the turmoil surrounding the club though, it could very well serve as extra motivation for the club looking to get a statement win at Old Trafford and a cup run under their belt too – so United should not completely rule them out.

Manager Paul Ince is a face Old Trafford is more than familiar with and he will be looking to make his own statement at the home of his former employers, who he has been critical of in the past but recently heaped praise on Erik ten Hag.