Premier League preview: Manchester United v West Bromwich Albion

Manchester United will hope to forget their Europa League defeat to Athletic Bilbao when they host West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.

United went down 3-2 at home to Spanish club Athletic in the Europa League round-of-16 on Thursday.

The English Premier League champions were largely outplayed by the visitors to Old Trafford, and needed a late Wayne Rooney penalty to stay in touch in the two-legged tie.

United do have a chance to make amends when they travel to Estadio San Mames for the second leg next Thursday.

For now their attention turns to domestic matters, and West Brom could find themselves in the firing line if manager Sir Alex Ferguson demands an immediate response from his players.

United have been in impressive league form of late.

They registered a 3-1 win over third-placed Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday, and sit just two points behind cross-city rivals Manchester City.

With the league leaders facing a potential tricky fixture away to Swansea City, United could have a chance to make up more ground in the title race.

West Brom however may have designs on springing a surprise at Old Trafford.

Roy Hodgson’s team have managed to win their last three matches in succession, with two of those results prompting the sacking of the opposition manager.

A 5-1 derby thrashing of Wolverhampton Wanderers saw Mick McCarthy relieved of his duties, while last week’s 1-0 victory at home to Chelsea led to the departure of Andre Villas-Boas.

Sandwiched between those two results came an impressive 4-0 win over a resurgent Sunderland team.

Hodgson will be without the experience of versatile player Steven Reid, who is sidelined with an ankle injury, but defender Billy Jones could return from an ankle problem.

For United, goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard will not be available until later this month, also due to an ankle injury.

Young midfielder Tom Cleverley is close to returning, but hamstring trouble will prevent winger Antonio Valencia from featuring this weekend.

The loss of Nemanja Vidic (knee) and Darren Fletcher (illness) for the rest of the season remains a blow to United.