Manchester United look to boost their top four hopes as they welcome West Ham United to Old Trafford.
At least one point for United will send them up to third in the table before Chelsea visit Liverpool later on Wednesday evening, whilst West Ham can climb to 16th with at least a point.
Team News
Eric Bailly is a doubt for Manchester United after suffering a head injury in a collision with teammate – Harry Maguire, during Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final defeat against Chelsea at Wembley Stadium.
Maguire (head) is expected to be available whilst Luke Shaw is unlikely to feature as he continues to recover from a swollen ankle, potentially joining Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe on sidelines with unspecified injuries which has kept the pair out since lockdown.
West Ham could hand Ryan Fredericks a late fitness test on a calf injury that sidelined him in Friday’s win over Watford.
Robert Snodgrass remains absent with a back injury but could be available for Sunday’s final game of season against Aston Villa.
Stat Attack
- Manchester United are unbeaten in four of their last six meetings against West Ham (W3, D1, L2).
- West Ham are winless in their last 14 trips to Old Trafford in all competitions (D3, L11).
- The home team has won each of last three meetings between these teams, scoring at least twice on each occasion.
- Out of seven penalties awarded in 47 previous Premier League meetings, Man Utd are the only team to miss with four penalties converted out of five compared to West Ham’s two converted penalties from two spot kicks.
- Nemanja Matic is the only Man Utd player to have made at least one last man tackle this season.
Prediction
After a disappointing performance on Sunday full of defensive errors, Man Utd really need to produce a strong reaction if want to put a top four finish into their own hands heading into Sunday’s six-pointer finale at Leicester on the final day of this season.
West Ham however seem to have finally found their best attacking foot in their last two games, especially in the first half against Watford in which they simply battered the Hornets’ defence with relative ease.
Defending therefore is going to be a key factor here in my opinion, although the Hammers don’t have the best of records here so unless they score first, I can see Man Utd taking victory.
Prediction: Manchester United 2-1 West Ham United
Result: Manchester United 5-3 West Ham United