Rarely are Manchester United not the focus ahead of one of their fixtures but the appointment of Avram Grant as Portsmouth's fourth manager in 13 months has clearly shifted the spotlight away from the champions. The Israeli is seeking what would only be Pompey's fourth win of the season and so United are hardly ideal first opponents. Grant can, though, see this game as a chance to seek revenge for Chelsea's 2008 Champions League final defeat when he came within a John Terry penalty of landing the trophy. Sachin Nakrani

Venue Fratton Park

Tickets Sold out

Last season Portsmouth 0 Manchester United 1

Referee M Dean

This season's matches 8 Y37, R2, 5.29 cards per game

sportingbet odds Portsmouth 7-1 Man Utd 1-3 Draw 7-2

Portsmouth

Subs from Begovic, Niemi, Mokoena, Vanden Borre, Finnan, Utaka, Diop, Belhadj, Basinas, Yebda, Willamson, Webber, Kanu, Hughes, Piquionne, Ward

Doubtful Belhadj (back), Diop (hamstring), Finnan (groin), Utaka (thigh), Yebda (calf)

Injured James (calf, 12 Dec), Primus (ankle, 26 Dec)

Suspended None

Form guide LLWDLW

Disciplinary record Y23 R1

Leading scorer Dindane 3

Manchester United

Subs from Foster, Kuszczak, Anderson, Owen, Welbeck, Giggs, Neville, Gibson, Scholes, Macheda, Obertan, Park

Doubtful Berbatov (knee), Van der Sar (knee)

Injured J Evans (thigh, 5 Dec), Fabio (groin, 5 Dec), O'Shea (thigh, 5 Dec), Ferdinand (back, 19 Dec), Hargreaves (knee, 26 Dec)

Suspended None

Form guide WLWLWD

Disciplinary record Y22 R2

Leading scorer Rooney 7

Match pointers

• United have lost their last two Premier League away games – they have not lost three in a row since New Year's Day 1996

• Portsmouth have failed to score in their last three Premier League meetings with Manchester United

• Wayne Rooney has had more touches of the ball in the opposition half (657) than any other player this season

• Only one of Portsmouth's last 18 home league games has ended in a draw

• Manchester United need one more win to reach 2,000 in league football