PREVIEW: Luton Town v Manchester United

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solksjaer knows his side will have to improve and improve quickly if they are going to have any chance of challenging for a first Premier League title since 2013 this season.

A less than busy summer than Red Devils fans wanted in the transfer market has seen the club shell out on one major signing so far, bringing in Dutch international winner Donny van de Beek from Ajax for a fee of around £35m

However, United haven't been as active as their top flight rivals, moving on Alexis Sanchez and Angel Gomes to Inter Milan and Lille respectively, although did tie promising goalkeeper Dean Henderson down to a long-term contract, who is expected to seriously push David de Gea for a place now.

The Red Devils kicked off their Premier League season with a disappointing 3-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Already trailing 1-0, they conceded a dubious penalty awarded by VAR, which was twice taken, Wilfried Zaha scoring the second attempt after de Gea had saved from Jordan Ayew.

It led Solksjaer to say: “I am very disappointed, I think it shows that we are short.

“We are short in game-time, fitness, sharpness and we need to improve quickly.

“These were three points that we wanted and we needed, there are 37 games to go, but this is a wake-up call.

“It is also something that we knew we had to face when we went so far into Europe. We had a short preparation time, but that is the reality so there are no excuses.

“For me it is not a penalty, it is very harsh. Then it is a great save by David and then a very harsh decision against him.

“It is probably the right one if you follow the rules, because his foot is probably one inch off the line, with his heel, but who knows what would have happened.

"That is not the decision that lost us the game.”

Team news: Luton expect Glen Rea to be fit the for the clash after coming off against Derby on Saturday due to feeling light-headed.

Dan Potts misses out due to his foot injury, while Eunan O'Kane and Brendan Galloway are missing too.

United have doubts over defenders Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe, both of who missed Saturday's game.

Top scorers: Hatters: James Collins (4). Red Devils: Donny van de Beek (1).

Man in the middle: Tim Robinson – has taken two Championship games this term, showing two red cards at the weekend, both to Barnsley players in their 2-0 defeat at Reading.

Refereed 33 games last term, with 91 yellows and just the one red, while tonight's clash is his first Luton game since January 15, 2019 when he officiated the 1-0 FA Cup third round home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.

The season before, he had Town's 3-2 home defeat to Wycombe in League Two, while has also took Luton's 1-0 defeat to Portsmouth in January 2017, the 1-1 draw with Leyton Orient in October 2015 and 1-1 draw with Bury in August 2014.

Has had the whistle for one victory, that a 1-0 success at Newport County in the Conference back in November 2011, Danny Crow getting a 90th minute winner.

The referee's assistants are Lee Venamore and Andrew Fox, with the fourth official Andy Woolmer.

In charge: Ole Gunnar Solskjær – 47-year-old Norwegian who was a forward of some repute during his career, winning a whole host of honours.

Started out at Clausenengen in his home country, scoring 115 goals in 109 matches, heading to Molde in 1994, where he caught the eye of Sir Alex Ferguson, moving to Old Trafford in July 1996.

Proved to be one the biggest Premier League bargains of the season, netting 18 times as United won the title.

Played a massive part in the club doing the treble in 1999, claiming the league title once more, beating Newcastle in the FA Cup Final and Bayern Munich in the Champions League final, Solskjær famously getting the stoppage time winner.

Went on to win six Premier League titles in total and two FA Cups, plus an Intercontinental Cup during his 11 years at United, retiring in June 2007, finishing with 126 goals in 366 appearances for the club.

Also played in one World Cup, and one European Championships for Norway, winning 67 caps and scoring 23 times.

Took his first steps into coaching at Old Trafford, and became reserve team boss in May 2008, then going to former club Molde as manager in November 2010.

Won the Tippeligaen in his first year, heading to Cardiff City in January 2014, but only lasted nine months in Wales.

Went back to Molde in October 2015, before becoming caretaker United boss in December 2018 after Jose Mourinho left Old Trafford.

Won his first game 5-1 and after 14 victories from 19 fixtures, signed a three year deal in March 2019 to become permanent boss.

View from the opposition: Boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: “They’ve started really well and finished last season really well, as well.

“They have, of course, beaten Norwich and Reading to get there in the cup and beaten Barnsley and Derby in the league as well.

“It’s a team with confidence and they’re playing Man United, of course it will be a big game for them.

“But it’s a big game for our players, the ones who get a chance, as they need to show they are ready to be called upon.”

One to watch: Odion Ighalo – Nigerian striker who started his career in his home country playing for Prime and Julius Berger.

Moved to Norwegian club Lyn in 2007, before joining Udinese and then a first venture to England in 2014, with Championship club Watford, helping the Hornets win promotion to the Premier League.

In January 2017, moved to Chinese Super League club Changchun Yatai for a reported £20 million, then joining Shanghai Greenland Shenhua.

Came back to England in January 2020, signing on loan for Manchester United until the end of the 2019–20 season, the deal extended until January 30, 2021, as he has scored five goals in 20 games so far.

Played 35 times for his country, scoring 16 goals, but announced his international retirement recently.

Friendly faces: Ryan Tunnicliffe – Town's midfielder came through the ranks at Old Trafford, a big part of the 2011 FA Youth Cup winning side.

He made two substitute appearances for the Red Devils, both in the Capital One Cup, having loan moves to Peterborough, Barnsley and Ipswich.

Tunicliffe left Old Trafford in January 2014, joining Fulham, as he went on to have spells with Wigan, Blackburn and Millwall, before moving to Luton last summer, and has featured 41 times so far, netting the winner at Middlesbrough last season.

Played for both: Mal Donaghy – high class defender who started out at Irish Amateur League side Cromac Albion, then moving to Larne.

Snapped up by Luton boss David Pleat for a fee of £15,000 in June 1978 and went on to become one of the top performers in the Hatters' most successful era.

Part of the side who reached the top flight after winning Division Two 1982, Donaghy was then key as Luton finished seventh in then 1986–87 campaign and also lifted the 1988 Littlewoods Cup with a 3–2 win over Arsenal.

Having played 488 games, the fifth highest in Town's history, and scoring 21 goals, Donaghy moved to Manchester United for £650,000 in October 1988, aged 31.

Made almost 100 appearances for the Red Devils, on the bench for the European Cup Winners' Cup triumph in 1991, as he joined Chelsea in August 1992 for £100,000.

Helped the Blues finish 11th in the inaugural Premier League season and reach the FA Cup final in the 1993–94 season, before announcing his retirement from club football.

Won 91 caps for Northern Ireland too, playing in the 1982 and 1986 World Cup Finals, returning to his home country after his playing days were over,

Had a short time as manager at Newry Town, and stints as a coach with Cliftonville and as a Youth Development Officer with Donegal Celtic, while was also in charge of the Northern Ireland U19 team.

We've got form: Town had started off well against United, winning a Division Two clash 1-0 on September 4, 1937, Bert Dawes on target in front of 20,000 at Kenilworth Road.

Things got tougher then, Luton not winning for eight matches and almost 50 years, including a 5-0 loss in 1984, until April 21, 1985, when Mick Harford scored twice, including one penalty in a 2-1 victory.

That led to a purple patch for the Hatters and Harford, Luton going on a four game unbeaten run, two wins and two draws, Harford and Brian Stein on target in a 2-1 success in 1987.

The next five matches saw Town draw twice and lose three, as their overall record at Kenilworth Road reads three wins, six draws and eight losses, scoring 14 goals and conceding 28.

Last time out: Luton drew 1-1 with Manchester United in Division One on April 18, 1992.

Lee Sharpe put the Red Devils ahead in the first half, before Mick Harford levelled, heading home once his own effort had crashed against the crossbar.

Hatters: Alec Chamberlain, Julian James, Richard Harvey, Chris Kamara, John Dreyer, Trevor Peake, Imre Varadi, Scott Oakes, Mick Harford, Mark Pembridge, David Preece.

Subs used: Phil Gray, Brian Stein.

Attendance: 13,410.