Manchester United welcome West Ham to Old Trafford in a huge clash in the race for a top four finish.
Victory would see Man Utd leapfrog West Ham into fourth, whereas David Moyes’ Hammers will stay fourth with a win and open a five-point gap to his former Red Devils.
Team News
Jadon Sancho is set to return for Man Utd after missing their midweek win at Brentford due to personal reasons.
Scott McTominay (knock) and Aaron Wan Bissaka (illness) are doubts but Eric Bailly (international duty), Luke Shaw (hamstring), Edinson Cavani (muscle) and Paul Pogba (quad) remain absent.
West Ham could welcome Said Benrahma back into contention following his return from international duty, after Algeria suffered a shock midweek exit at 2022 Africa Cup of Nations.
Tomas Soucek (fitness) is a doubt but Kurt Zouma (hamstring), Angelo Ogbonna and Mark Noble (both knee) remain absent.
Stat Attack
- Man Utd have lost just one of their last five league meetings against West Ham (W3, D1, L1).
- West Ham have claimed two points from their last five league visits to Old Trafford (D2, L3).
- Both teams have missed one penalty apiece in 51 previous Premier League meetings, with Utd scoring four of five penalties to West Ham’s three goals from four spot-kicks.
- Utd have won three of their four home matches under Ralf Rangnick in all competitions (W3, L1).
- West Ham have kept just one clean sheet in their last seven Premier League away matches (W3, D1, L3).
Prediction
Patience and clinical finishing were crucial to Man Utd’s win at Brentford on Wednesday evening in a game which they should of lost, if not for a stubborn yet messy first-half defensive display and excellent saves by David De Gea.
West Ham meanwhile looked lacklustre against Leeds last weekend especially with hesitation in their defensive pressing to close down gaps, whilst attack lacked their usual sharpness which could be down to three games in seven days last week.
This clash though is crucial in the race for a top four finish and it might well be to West Ham’s benefit that Utd were the team in action in midweek, although Old Trafford hasn’t been a fine territory for the Hammers in the past so expect a scrap here.
With that latter point in mind, my gut instinct says that first goal will be crucial and if West Ham score first, I can see them snatching a win but a draw seems the likely bet.
Prediction: Manchester United 1-1 West Ham
Result: Manchester United 1-0 West Ham
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