United have won their last four matches in all competitions, a run that has seen them progress into the knockout stages of the Champions League as group winners as well as reaching the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup.

However, the Red Devils are still languishing in the unfamiliar place of eighth in the Premier League table despite convincing back-to-back league wins over Aston Villa and West Ham United.

They trail league leaders Liverpool by eight points, which is a deficit they have overhauled before, but David Moyes will need to continue this increased level of consistency if he is to catch the top four teams.

United are unbeaten in their last nine matches away from home in all competitions, but they will be without Marouane Fellaini through injury, while Michael Carrick, Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck are also doubts for the game.

The latter two could prove telling absences given Hull's defensive record at home this season. The Tigers have conceded just three times at the KC Stadium since their promotion - the best record of any team at home in the league.

They come into the match on the back of three consecutive draws and without a win in four games, but if they can end that run then they could move back into the top half of the table.

To do that, Steve Bruce will have to do something he has never done - beat the Red Devils as a manager. The United legend has come up against his former team 18 times but has managed just four draws and 14 defeats in that time.

He will likely be without Robbie Brady again, while Sone Aluko and Stephen Quinn remain sidelined, so Bruce could opt for an unchanged lineup.

United have won 16 of their last 17 Boxing Day outings, with a 3-1 defeat to Middlesbrough in 2002 the only exception.

Recent form

Hull: LWLDDD

Man Utd: LLWWWW

Possible starting lineups

Hull: McGregor; Chester, Bruce, Davies; Elmohamady, Livermore, Huddlestone, Meyler, Figueroa; Graham, Sagbo.

Man Utd: De Gea; Rafael, Smalling, Evans, Evra; Jones, Cleverley; Valencia, Rooney, Young; Welbeck

Sports Mole says: 0-1