After suffering another blip in the Barclays Premier League, Manchester United now shift their undivided attention to the UEFA Champions League campaign as they host Rangers FC at Old Trafford.
This past weekend, United drew 3-3 with Everton , but the result really felt like a loss primarily because they gifted the Toffees two unexplainable injury-time goals, and now they are four points adrift in Premier League table behind Chelsea after four matches.
In contrasting style, though, United's opponents, Rangers, have taken maximum points from their four matches, but they trail Celtic on goal differential atop of the standings.
About
Rangers are the current reigning champions of the Scottish Premier League and have won an amazing 33 domestic league titles, which is a world-record, but more importantly it is 11 more than their hated-Glaswegian neighbors, Celtic.
Despite their domestic dominance, The Gers have struggled in the Champions League lately, and have not won in 10 matches, but like any derby - European or Premier League - you must rule out form, because anything can happen at anytime.
There are some Manchester-Glasgow connections starting with that the current manager of Rangers, Walter Smith, was a former United assistant and helped lead the Reds to their last FA Cup title in 2004.
The link between the clubs does not end there, because Rangers are the club that Sir Alex Ferguson made a name for himself as a player, but as a manager, the United boss knocked them - and Celtic - off their perch with Aberdeen in the late 1970s to the mid-80s.
The last association between them is one that United does not want to remember and that is Kenny Miller. The Scotland international scored the lone goal of the match for Wolverhampton against United in the 2003/04 season - a game that saw United all but lose their grip on their Premier League title and it was the last time that Rio Ferdinand played for 10 months after missing his drugs test.
Miller is currently the top scorer in the Scottish Premier League with six goals, which is two-thirds of Ranger season total.
Miller's strike partner, James Beattie, is a player that was once linked with a move to United after having a stellar career with Southampton, but since then he has played for three different clubs - Everton, Sheffield United and Stoke City - and he is hopeful that he will find a permanent home at the Ibrox Stadium.
David Weir is their captain, and the 40-year old just became the oldest capped player for Scotland following his appearance against Lithuania.
Another player that American soccer fans will know is Maurice Edu, because the Rangers No. 7 is constant fixture in the United States Men's National Team line-up, and
Flashback
The last time Rangers took the 215-mile journey south to Greater Manchester there was a bit of controversy as their supporters looted in the streets.
On the field, Rangers did not offer much resistance as United walked out comfortable 3-0 winners at Old Trafford. Diego Forlan and two goals from Ruud van Nistelrooy proved to me way too much as Rangers did not even really bother the United goal.
News
United supporters will get a boost after the disappointing draw at Goodison Park because Ferguson should recall Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand to the line-up. Both players trained ahead of the British derby.
Another player that was training, which should raise the confidence of the supporters is siting of Michael Carrick. The under-fire midfielder has been ruled out for the best part of a month with an achilles injury, so it is a welcoming site, and its just too bad he wasn't fit for the match this past weekend.
On paper, Manchester United should have a walk-in-the-park against Rangers - especially with their contrasting records in the UEFA Champions League, but as the supporters have witnessed so far this season, the Reds like to do things the hard way.
Treatment
Out: O. Hargreaves (knee); Doubtful: M. Carrick (achilles), Anderson (knee); Probable: G. Neville (groin), R. Ferdinand (knee), G. Obertan (ankle)
Projected
E. van der Sar; J. O'Shea, R. Ferdinand, N. Vidic, P. Evra; Nani, P. Scholes, D. Fletcher, R. Giggs; W. Rooney, D. Berbatov
Prediction
Manchester United 3, Rangers FC 1
Contributed by David Hammons / The United Religion
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