Manchester United's title defence begins at The Hawthorns, one of only five away grounds where they won in the Premier League last season. Lady luck was smiling on them on that occasion. Gary Neville should have been sent off and Peter Odemwingie missed a penalty for Albion. Despite United's impressive comeback against Manchester City last Sunday, which was inspired by younger legs, Sir Alex Ferguson is likely to put his faith in an experienced line-up here. Albion may give a debut to new signing Shane Long, with Odemwingie struggling to be fit. Stuart James

Venue The Hawthorns, Sunday 4pm

Tickets £42 (0871 271 9780)

Last season West Brom 1 Man Utd 2

Referee Mike Jones

Last season's matches 26 Y83, R3, 3.31 cards per game

Odds West Brom 6-1 Man Utd 8-15 Draw 10-3

West Bromwich

Subs from Fulop, Cech, Tchoyi, Ibáñez, Dorrans, Jara, Fortuné, Odemwingie, Mattock, Wood, Jones, Dawson, Hurst

Doubtful Mulumbu (abdomen), Odemwingie (ankle), Reid (calf)

Injured McAuley (virus, 20 Aug)

Suspended Gera (first of three)

Disciplinary record (last season) Y55 R7

Leading scorer (last season) Odemwingie 15

Manchester United

Subs from Lindegaard, Fábio, Park, Smalling, Evans, Jones, Gibson, Giggs, Welbeck, Cleverley, Diouf, Owen

Doubtful Carrick (achilles), Evra (knee)

Injured Fletcher (virurs, 20 Aug), Valencia (ankle, 20 Aug), Hernández (concussion, 27 Aug)

Suspended None

Disciplinary record (last season) Y58 R3

Leading scorer Berbatov 20

Match pointers

• Ashley Young won more penalties (five) than any other player last term

• Albion have never won their first match of a Premier League season, drawing two and losing three of their five games so far

• Michael Owen needs to score once more to reach 150 Premier League career goals

• Albion set a new record for the fewest clean sheets in a Premier League campaign (two) last season

• David de Gea conceded more goals from shots outside the area (11) than any other keeper in the Spanish league in 2010-11