Manchester United played their first home game in more than three months on Sunday and some changes to Old Trafford were on display
Manchester United made two big changes to Old Trafford before their first Premier League home game of the season. The Reds went up against newly-promoted Ipswich Town on Sunday afternoon.
It was their first home match for more than three months and United decided to make some alternations to the stadium in the off-season and in preparation for Ipswich’s visit to Sir Matt Busby Way.
Indeed, the Old Trafford pitch has been re-laid for the first time in 14 years. Soon after United’s final home game of the 2025/26 season against Nottingham Forest, the turf was dug up and stripped back to its foundation.
The project, led by award-winning groundsman Tony Sinclair and his team, saw the entire pitch regrown in a concerted effort to improve player welfare and water drainage, following concerns in recent years.
In an attempt to get the pitch fitted and sorted in time for the start of the season, United decided against having a home pre-season fixture this summer, instead playing all six friendlies across Europe.
But, as seen before kick-off and during the win against Ipswich, the Old Trafford pitch looked in fine condition and prepared for the 2026/27 as the Reds prepare to return to the Champions League.
The second major change enforced was that the old perimeter wall was covered in padding to give the players more protection. The United pitch is about three feet higher than the surrounding area due to a 1990s elevation, creating a drop-off, ditch, and masonry wall that risked player safety and caused concerns.
But, after Benjamin Sesko aggravated a shin injury following a collision with the perimeter during a match against Liverpool, United have appeared to address that issue and put padding on the area.
United ended up thumping Ipswich 5-2 at Old Trafford as they secured their first win of the season. However, the Reds did have to come from behind after the Tractor Boys took the lead through Leif Davis.
But Bruno Fernandes equalised just before half-time and a Jacob Greaves own-goal saw United go 2-1 in front in the second. A clinical attacking performance from United followed as Fernandes scored two more to net a hat-trick before Bryan Mbeumo made it five to the Reds with an inch-perfect lobbed finish.
There was still time for Ipswich to reduce the deficit to three and make it 5-2, however, as Julio Enciso robbed Lisandro Martinez before squaring to substitute Chuba Akpom to prod home from close-range.
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