2020-21 FA Cup: Fifth Round – Manchester United vs West Ham

Manchester United welcome West Ham United to Old Trafford in a mouth-watering all Premier League encounter in Fifth Round of 2020-21 FA Cup.

This match represents a huge opportunity for Man Utd to continue their strong Cup competition record under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, which sees them look to reach the last eight for a seventh consecutive time.

West Ham meanwhile come into this game looking to continue their run of just one loss in their last 11 games across all competitions, as well as look to reach the Quarter-Finals for the first time since 2016, where they were coincidentally knocked out by Man Utd in a replay.

 

Team News

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Paul Pogba is ruled out for Man Utd with a muscle injury sustained during Saturday’s 3-3 draw against Everton in the Premier League.

Eric Bailly (knock) won’t be risked but Phil Jones (knee) remains absent.

West Ham will be without loanee, Jesse Lingard who is ineligible to face his parent club as per the terms of his loan deal.

Tomas Soucek is available for selection after his controversial red card during Saturday’s goalless draw at Fulham was rescinded upon appeal.

Michail Antonio is a doubt with fatigue whilst Arthur Masuaku (knee) and Darren Randolph (knock) remain absent.

 

Stat Attack

• Man Utd have advanced from five of nine FA Cup ties against West Ham despite needing replays on two occasions (W5, D3, L4).
• West Ham have taken all four of their FA Cup wins over Man Utd without needing replays, although this is first time that they have met since Fifth Round switched to single knockout ties.
• Utd have progressed from seven of eight Fifth Round ties in last eight seasons, only once facing Premier League opposition during those seven appearances at this stage – Chelsea (a) in 2018.
• West Ham have advanced from three of their last five appearances in Fifth Round of FA Cup, in which they faced Premier League opposition on three occasions and lost two of those ties.
• Utd have gone on to win the FA Cup in three of five season where they faced West Ham at home, winning in 1982-83, 84-85 & 2015-16 seasons but failed to do so in 2002-03 and 12-13 seasons.

 

Prediction

Man Utd will certainly be coming into this game looking for a cleaner performance than they delivered on Saturday because they were consistently strong going forward, yet their defending in the second half was sloppy to allow Everton to score three goals and nick a late point.

West Ham meanwhile were surprisingly well matched by a Fulham team who fended off the Hammers’ first-half dominance, before turning the screws after half time and caused real issues for David Moyes’ men and Tomas Soucek was unfairly dismissed for a harmless incident involving Aleksandr Mitrovic.

Reaction though will be important here for both teams but if West Ham can continue their momentum, I can sense a cupset coming, although I have a feeling that Utd will find a way to squeak through by hook or crook.

Prediction: Manchester United 2-1 West Ham

Result: Manchester United 1-0 West Ham (AET)