Your essential guide to United v Reading

The Reds also faced the Royals in the third round in 2016/17 and ran out 4-0 winners, thanks to goals from Wayne Rooney, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford (2).

United will be looking to maintain the winning start under caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, by earning a fifth consecutive victory in all competitions, while the ultimate aim is to go one better than last term in the FA Cup. If the Reds can go from being runners-up to Chelsea in the final to winners at Wembley this May, it would see the club equalling Arsenal's all-time record of 13 triumphs.

Here's everything you need to know ahead of Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off…

WHAT'S THE TEAM NEWS?
Solskjaer has confirmed that Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez will both start on Saturday and he will make "a few changes" to the side to make full use of the strong squad at his disposal. Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo are still sidelined and fellow defender Eric Bailly will sit out the second game of his three-match ban, following his red card against Bournemouth last weekend. Paul Pogba is a doubt after picking up a knock against Newcastle and Ole is hopeful that fellow midfielder Marouane Fellaini comes through Friday's training session in order to be available.

HOW ABOUT READING?
The Royals could welcome back defenders Chris Gunter and Liam Moore. The latter returned from injury in their last outing against Swansea City but was only fit enough for a place on the bench, while Gunter has not played since a 1-1 draw against Rotherham on 15 December. However, the visitors will be without Leandro Bacuna and former United defender Tyler Blackett - both of whom are suspended following red cards against Millwall. Long-term absentees Paul McShane, Saeid Ezatolahi and Jordan Obita will also miss the game through injury, while Dutch midfielder Pelle Clement left the club on Wednesday to join PEC Zwolle in his homeland. Ex-Red John O'Shea is expected to be involved.

HOW ARE THE ROYALS DOING?
Reading are struggling in the Championship and are currently 23rd in the table, having picked up just 20 points from their 26 league games so far. Last time out, the Royals were beaten 4-1 at home by Swansea City - their third defeat in the last four matches. In fact, Reading’s last win came way back on 3 November - in a 3-2 victory against Bristol City.

WHO IS THEIR MANAGER?
Saturday's tie will represent a fourth match in charge for Jose Gomes, who replaced Paul Clement in the hotseat at the Madejski Stadium last month. The Portuguese coach has drawn one and lost two of his previous three games in charge. Gomes has an extensive CV that has seen him manage in Portugal, Hungary, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

WHAT'S OUR RECORD AGAINST READING?
We have previously faced the Berkshire outfit on 20 occasions in all competitions - the first of which came in the FA Cup third round back in 1912. The Reds have beaten the Royals 12 times, while there have been seven draws and just one win for Reading. Incidentally, 14 of the previous meetings have been in the FA Cup, with the other six coming in the Premier League. As mentioned earlier, the last encounter came two years ago at Old Trafford when Reading were under the management of former United defender Jaap Stam and Rooney became our joint all-time leading scorer, matching Sir Bobby Charlton's record with his 249th goal for the club. Relive the highlights of that match below...