Shall we try this again? United's curtain-raiser against Swansea last weekend didn't exactly go to plan, as injuries and defensive chaos saw the Welsh side leave Old Trafford with three points.
While the transfer market at last appears to be yielding to Ed Woodward's desperate pleadings, injury rules out two of United's three signings of the summer, Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw, while Marcos Rojo's debut will have to wait until his work permit is cleared. Also missing with various twinges and strains are Marouane Fellaini, Jesse Lingard and Michael Carrick, while Rafael is also overlooked for more mysterious reasons.
Danny Welbeck returns to the bench despite rumours during the week that Van Gaal is looking to move him on, and is joined there by Adnan Januzaj, the match winner in last season's fixture. Most excitingly, Robin van Persie returns up front; according to Van Gaal he brings "quality, experience and, hopefully, goals." And so say all of us.
United: David de Gea; Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Tyler Blackett; Antonio Valencia, Tom Cleverley, Darren Fletcher, Juan Mata, Ashley Young; Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie.
Subs: Ben Amos, Michael Keane, Reece James, Shinji Kagawa, Javier Hernandez, Danny Welbeck, Adnan Januzaj
Sunderland: Mannone, Vergini, van Aanholt, Brown, O'Shea (c), Cattermole, Larsson, Rodwell, Buckley, Wickham, Fletcher.
Subs: Pantilimon, Jones, Bridcutt, Gomez, Altidore, Mavrias, Roberge