Manchester United will be eager to return to winning ways when they travel to the London Stadium to take on West Ham United on Sunday.
Gameweek 35 of the 2022/23 Premier League season will continue on Sunday. Only two matches will grace the day, with the action kicking off at St. James’ Park, where Newcastle United will face Arsenal. And the second and final game will see West Ham United hosting Manchester United at the London Stadium.
West Ham United have endured a frustrating 2022/23 Premier League season thus far. The Hammers have been in the relegation battle for much of the campaign. But following a few decent displays, three successive defeats in the last two weeks mean they are not out of the woods yet. So Sunday’s game will be crucial for West Ham’s hopes.
On the other hand, Manchester United’s form continues to flounder, with Brighton & Hove Albion handing them a 1-0 defeat earlier this week. The Red Devils have not won back-to-back games in the last four weeks. And the inconsistent run has left Erik ten Hag’s men looking over their shoulders, with Liverpool only four points behind them.
West Ham United and Manchester United have clashed twice this season, with David Moyes’s men losing both games. The Red Devils clinched a 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture while beating the Hammers 3-1 in the FA Cup fifth round. And The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
West Ham United
David Moyes gives an update on the players that missed Wednesday's game through illness 🗣️#WHUFC | #TalkingPoint with @LycamobileUK pic.twitter.com/Sj4BDUxAxJ
— West Ham United (@WestHam) May 5, 2023
David Moyes has half a dozen fitness issues hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Manchester United on Sunday, the West Ham United manager might be bereft of the services of as many as six first-team players.
Kurt Zouma (ankle), Vladimir Coufal (thig), and Gianluca Scamacca (knee) are certain to miss the game. Meanwhile, Moyes is sweating over the fitness of Neyaf Aguerd, Declan Rice, and Tomas Soucek, with the trio recovering from an illness.
But all three players should feature in the starting eleven this weekend. Meanwhile, Lukasz Fabianski should take his place between the sticks, with West Ham lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him. Aguerd should join Angelo Ogbonna in the defensive unit, with Thilo Kehrer and Emerson Palmieri being the full-backs.
As for the midfield unit, Soucek and Rice will continue their partnership. The duo will aim to keep a lid on Bruno Fernandes’s output. At the same time, both players will aim to push the hosts forward with purpose during transitions.
Lucas Paqueta will be the most advanced midfielder for West Ham, with the Brazilian pulling the strings for the home side. Finally, Jarrod Bowen and Said Benrahma will be the two wide men, with Michail Antonio spearheading the attack.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Kehrer, Ogbonna, Aguerd, Emerson; Soucek, Rice; Bowen, Paqueta, Benrahma; Antonio
Manchester United
Like his counterpart in the West Ham United dugout, Erik ten Hag has several pressing issues to deal with ahead of the trip to the London Stadium. The Manchester United manager will be without seven first-team players on Sunday.
Lisandro Martinez (foot) and Raphael Varane (ankle) remain the most notable absentees. And the two players have left a gaping hole in the Manchester United backline. Meanwhile, Tom Heaton (ankle), Phil Jones (knee), Donny van de Beek (knee), Scott McTominay (knock), and Alejandro Garnacho (ankle) remain on the sidelines.
The manager has hinted that @AGarnacho7 could make his return from injury on Sunday 💬#MUFC || #WHUMUN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 6, 2023
David de Gea is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him. And the backline should remain unchanged, with Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw forming the central defensive partnership. Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot will retain their spots as the full-backs.
As for the midfield unit, Christian Eriksen should return after Manchester United failed to control the midfield battle against Brighton & Hove Albion. The Danish playmaker will help the visitors remain on top of the proceedings while pairing up with Casemiro in the double pivot.
Bruno Fernandes will be the creative supremo for Manchester United, looking to create the moves for his side. And the Portuguese international should join Antony, Jadon Sancho, and Marcus Rashford in the final third on
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): de Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Shaw, Dalot; Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Sancho; Rashford
Key Stats
- Manchester United have won their last two away league games against West Ham United, as many as in their previous eight visits (D3 L3). They last won three in a row at the Hammers between February 2009 and April 2011.
- West Ham United have dropped 35 points from winning positions against Manchester United in the Premier League, more than they have against any other side. Their record when leading against the Red Devils in the competition is W7 D7 L7.
- Manchester United have won just one of their last eight Premier League away games against London sides (D3 L4), beating Fulham 2-1 earlier this season. That is as many defeats as they’d suffered in their previous 23 visits to the capital (W12 D7 L4).
- West Ham United are winless in three Premier League home games (D1 L2), conceding nine goals in these matches. The Hammers had been unbeaten in their previous five at the London Stadium (W3 D2), keeping three clean sheets and conceding just twice.
- Lucas Paqueta has been involved in four goals in his last four home games for West Ham in all competitions (two goals, two assists), double the amount he had in his first 16 at the London Stadium (two assists).
Player to Watch
Bruno Fernandes
With Manchester United suddenly looking over their shoulders after blowing hot and cold in the last few weeks, several players need to step up. And considering Marcus Rashford is still consistent enough, the Red Devils need better output from the other attackers.
While Bruno Fernandes is enjoying a fantastic campaign, his output in the final third can improve. And after a game where he left much to be desired, the Portuguese international will be raring to bounce back. Express the 28-year-old to bring his A-Game against West Ham United on Sunday.
Prediction
West Ham United 1-2 Manchester United
West Ham United have a solid record at home but have been more vulnerable at the London Stadium in the last few weeks. The Hammers have dropped points in three successive home games. But they next face a team that has been sub-par on the road. And Manchester United’s dreadful record worsened earlier this week against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Meanwhile, David Moyes is winless in his last 10 Premier League games against Manchester United (D2 L8), losing the last five in a row. And that record should continue on Sunday, with the visitors likely to capitalise on the Hammers’ recent struggles. The Hard Tackle predicts a closely-contested affair, with Erik ten Hag and his charges clinching a 2-1 win.