Porto v Manchester United: Europa League – live

Say what you like about United, they make a good punchline. Barry Glendenning has some fun at their expense.

Porto (probable 4-3-3) Costa; Mario, Pedro, Perez, Moura; Varela, Eustaquio, Gonzalez; Pepe, Omorodion, Galeno.

Subs: Ramos, Fernandes, Otavio, Djalo, Grujic, Vieira, Franco, Mora, Sousa, Jaime, Borges, Gul, Namaso.

Manchester United (probable 4-2-3-1) Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Casemiro, Eriksen; Amad, Fernandes, Rashford; Højlund.

Subs: Bayindir, Heaton, Lindelof, Maguire, Evans, Collyer, Gore, Ugarte, Antony, Garnacho, Zirkzee.

Rasmus Hojlund, the only bright light for United in the Champions League last autumn, gets his first start of the season. Erik ten Hag rotates his midfield, replacing Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo with … Casemiro and Christian Eriksen. The old firm.

Evening everyone and welcome to the latest episode of a much-loved soap opera. This week, Bruno and Diogo go back home in an effort to find themselves, Erik tries to get out of jail again, and Sir Jim wonders whether he’s made a terrible mistake. Yes, it’s Desolation Street.

Or perhaps it’s the road to redemption. Erik ten Hag’s Man United do have it in them to bounce back from a shocker – they’ve had plenty of practice, after all. And this game looks like an opportunity to play on the counter, which often suits them. Porto have the sort of home record this season that is a distant memory for United fans: played four, won four. Opta’s algorithm gives them a 52pc chance of a win tonight to United’s 23.

Porto have two extra incentives. They’re even lower in the Europa League mega-table than United, after losing 3-2 at Bodo/Glimt last week. And they have a score to settle, as the last time they entertained United, in a second leg following a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford, the tie was decided by a screamer from Cristiano Ronaldo. That was a Champions League quarter-final in 2008-09. Those were the days.

Kick-off is at 8pm BST and I’ll be back soon with the teams.