Manchester United host West Ham in a huge Fifth Round tie in 2022-23 FA Cup.
Victory would see Man Utd reach the Quarter-Finals for the third time in four seasons, whilst West Ham are seeking their first appearance in the last eight since losing to Utd in that stage of 2015-16 season.
Team News
Man Utd have no fresh injury concerns to report after their Carabao Cup Final triumph against Newcastle last Sunday (26 February).
Luke Shaw and Fred though could sit this match out as part of possible squad rotation due to Utd’s hectic fixture schedule.
Christian Eriksen (ankle), Donny van de Beek (knee), Anthony Martial (leg) and Mason Greenwood (personal) remain absent.
West Ham manager, David Moyes could start Alphonse Areola in goal because Lukasz Fabianski is ruled out, after he suffered an eye socket injury and fractured cheekbone during their win over Nottingham Forest last weekend.
Kurt Zouma (quad) is a doubt but Vladimir Coufal (heel) has been ruled out.
Maxwel Cornet (calf) remains absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Man Utd host West Ham at Old Trafford in a 7:45pm GMT kick-off on Wednesday 1 March, live on ITV1 in UK.
Stat Attack
- Man Utd are unbeaten in their last six FA Cup meetings against West Ham (W4, D2).
- West Ham have won two of their last six FA Cup visits to Man Utd at Old Trafford (W2, D1, L3).
- Three of Utd’s last five FA Cup home games against West Ham have been settled by 1-0 result, with Utd winning twice to West Ham’s one win.
- Man Utd have won both FA Cup matches at home this season by a 3-1 result against Everton and Reading respectively (W2), albeit both broadcast live on ITV.
- West Ham have conceded just twice in six away matches in all cup competitions this season (W6), with both goals conceded away at Silkeborg in a 3-2 Europa Conference League win in September 2022.
Prediction
Having clinched their first title in six years at the weekend with a stunning smash-and-grab double against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup Final, Man Utd will certainly be coming into this game on a high but they were force to weather the Magpies’ second-half fightback with some robust defending.
This clash though will be Utd’s third match across three separate cup competitions in six days and fitness fatigue does seem to be seeping in now, especially given that they’ve not really had much time off since New Year between fixtures which could be a worry if this goes to extra-time.
West Ham meanwhile have a fairly impressive cup record – excluding their penalty shootout defeat in Third Round of Carabao Cup – this season, so I do expect them to take this match seriously especially after a clinical routing of Forest last weekend despite some sloppy first-half finishing.
Utd though are on a roll and it is hard to see them not winning this tie in front of a celebratory home crowd as they chase a domestic treble, unless West Ham are defensively robust and can deliver a clinical attacking performance.
Prediction: Manchester United 2-0 West Ham
Result: Manchester United 3-1 West Ham
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