Manchester United will play host to West Ham United on Saturday in another crunch Premier League clash.
Both the clubs will be aiming for a top-four finish this season and this makes this game an important one for both teams. A win here and they could further strengthen their chances of being in the top-four of the league table.
On his return to his former club, David Moyes will be hoping to ruin United’s celebration by a statement win. Against the top-six, his team has played exceptionally well. They will be confident in their ability to win another match against clubs that are challenging them for the Champions League spot.
Manchester United got their league season back on track this week with a win over Brentford by a 3-1 scoreline. Rangnick’s men were able to keep their haunted past back and produced a fine performance away from home.
It should offer supporters hope that, even if they remain outsiders in the race for the top four, they can still finish ahead of West Ham. They will move ahead of their opponents if they win on Saturday, although Spurs and Arsenal both have games in hand (You will be surprised to know that Tottenham has played three games less than Manchester United).
This means they don’t have control over their own destiny. Although the group has the talent to end the season strongly, there are concerns about their form in recent games.
For the past two seasons, West Ham has been a force to be reckoned with. David Moyes has built a fantastic team and deserves a lot of credit for their success over the past few seasons.
There will be disappointment following their defeat to Leeds United last weekend. They will not lose faith in their ability to finish in the top four. This season, they have already defeated Chelsea and Liverpool.
As for them, they will believe that another victory at Old Trafford is possible.
Manchester United vs West Ham United: Head-to-head
Total matches played between the two sides: 148
Manchester United wins: 70
West Ham wins: 46
Draws: 32
Last Meeting: West Ham United defeated the Red Devils in our last league clash by a 1-2 scoreline. Jesse Lingard scored a fine goal against his former team and Cristiano Ronaldo netted the winner.
Mark Noble had the opportunity to level things up for West Ham deep into the final few minutes of the game. But David de Gea expertly saved his penalty and ensured that Manchester United leave the London Stadium with maximum points.
However, West Ham got sweet revenge later as they eliminated Manchester United out of the Carabao Cup through a sublime strike from Manuel Lanzini.
Manchester United current form in all competitions: W, L, W, D, W
West Ham United current form in all competitions: W, W, W, W, L
Manchester United vs West Ham United: Team News
After missing the previous week due to a family funeral, Jadon Sancho should be available for this fixture. Both Edinson Cavani and Luke Shaw are doubtful, although Scott McTominay should be fit to play having been rested during the week. Paul Pogba’s return is still a few weeks away after it was revealed that he has returned to training.
Tomas Soucek, who has been on the sidelines for a while, is expected to return. Kurt Zouma and Mark Noble will be out of action until the end of the month. Said Benrahma is still in South Africa for the African Cup of Nations and therefore he will miss this clash.
Opposition Key Man: Jarrod Bowen
Jarrod Bowen has had a fantastic few weeks, and he is quickly establishing himself as West Ham’s key player. He’s been linked with Liverpool in the past, and he’ll almost certainly be called up to the England squad this year. He is consistently showing that he can produce at a high level in the Premier League, and he appears to be on track for a strong season.
He currently has six goals and seven assists this season. The goal will be to get both to ten. If he can start putting up stats like these on a regular basis, he’ll be a player deserving of a spot in the Champions League.
This is his chance to showcase his abilities in one of the country’s largest stadiums. It will be in games like this that he can persuade Gareth Southgate that he is worthy of a World Cup spot.
Our Key Player: Bruno Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes has had an outstanding week, reminding the world why he is one of Manchester United’s most vital players. He appears to have regained his form, which might be crucial in the team’s quest for Champions League football next season. Although there were concerns about his ability to link up with Cristiano Ronaldo, there were some encouraging signs against Brentford.
This season, the 27-year-old has scored seven goals and provided five assists in the Premier League. He’ll probably not match his numbers from last season, but he’ll still be a major threat in the attacking play. In recent weeks, West Ham has appeared to be loose at the back. They could have a lot of problems if Fernandes is in good form.
Our Prediction for the Match:
For whatever reason, neither side appears to be a strong defensive team at the time. Both teams have attacking talent, so there should be goals this weekend.
Manchester United hasn’t looked convincing under Rangnick, so there’s reason to question their chances of winning the top-four race. West Ham had a bad performance against Leeds, but they are a difficult club to play against, and their right balance should allow them to win at Old Trafford.
Our Scoreline: Manchester United 1-2 West Ham United
