Manchester United will aim to extend their winning run when they welcome West Ham United to Old Trafford on Sunday.
Gameweek 23 of the 2023/24 Premier League season will continue on Sunday, which will bring us four matches. The action on the day will start with three simultaneous fixtures, one of which will see Manchester United welcoming West Ham United to Old Trafford.
Manchester United have blown hot and cold throughout the 2023/24 season. The Red Devils have lost (14) nearly as many games as they have won (15) thus far. But recent results point to signs of a turnaround, with Erik ten Hag’s charges currently on a four-game unbeaten run. With the squad’s injury woes easing, the Dutchman will hope for more consistency from his players.
On the other hand, West Ham United have enjoyed a solid 2023/24 season thus far. The Hammers are sixth on the Premier League table, turning their fortunes around from a dreadful 2022/23 top-flight campaign. While David Moyes’s men were sub-par in the domestic cup competitions, they cruised through the UEFA Europa League group stage, finishing atop Group A.
The reverse fixture saw West Ham clinching a 2-0 win over Manchester United at the London Stadium, with Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus finding the back of the net. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Manchester United
Erik ten Hag has greeted positive updates on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against West Ham United on Sunday, the Manchester United manager will be bereft of the services of four first-team players.
Lisandro Martinez is fit and available, with the Dutchman claiming he took the Argentine off as a precaution. In addition, Victor Lindelof should be in the matchday squad, while Sofyan Amrabat is back from his international duty with Morocco at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Mason Mount is the most notable absentee, with the English international recovering from his calf issue. In addition, Aaron Wan-Bissaka is a doubt for Sunday’s game due to a knock. Tyrell Malacia (knee) and Anthony Martial (groin) remain on the sidelines.
Andre Onana will take his usual spot between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against West Ham United. The backline should remain unchanged, with Diogo Dalot, Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, and Luke Shaw completing the defensive quartet.
As for the midfield unit, Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo should pair up in the double pivot, with the latter riding high on confidence after scoring the match-winning goal versus Wolverhampton Wanderers on Thursday. Bruno Fernandes will reprise his usual no. 10 role, with Rasmus Hojlund, Marcus Rashford, and Alejandro Garnacho completing the numbers in the final third.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Onana; Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund
West Ham United
Like his counterpart in the Manchester United dugout, David Moyes does not have any new issues to deal with ahead of the trip to Old Trafford. The West Ham United manager will be without two first-team players on Sunday.
Vladimir Coufal has served his suspension and will be available for Sunday’s game. Meanwhile, Nayef Aguerd will likely return to the team after serving international duty with Morocco at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Meanwhile, Said Benrahma has completed his loan move to Lyon after a late hiccup in the deal with West Ham. So, Lucas Paqueta (calf) and Michail Antonio (knee) are the only absentees for the away side this weekend.
West Ham United will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Manchester United, with Alphonse Areola taking his spot between the sticks. Aguerd should reunite with Kurt Zouma at the heart of the defence, with Coufal and Emerson Palmieri completing the numbers in the backline.
As for the midfield unit, Tomas Soucek and Edson Alvarez will pair up in the double pivot. James Ward-Prowse will be the most advanced midfielder, looking to trouble the Manchester United backline with his late ghosting runs. Finally, Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen and Maxwel Cornet will form a fluid offensive trifecta.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Areola; Coufal, Aguerd, Zouma, Emerson; Soucek, Alvarez; Kudus, Ward-Prowse, Cornet; Bowen
Key Stats
- Manchester United are unbeaten in their last 15 home league games against West Ham United. The Hammers have only won nine of the 55 Premier League meetings, but two of those victories have come in the most recent two meetings.
- Manchester United have won three of their first four matches in all competitions this year after ending 2023 with just two wins in nine. Ten of their 11 Premier League victories this term were by a single-goal margin, including all six at Old Trafford.
- West Ham United can go seven league matches without defeat for the first time since September 2021. However, they can also go winless in their opening six league and cup games of a calendar year for the first time since 1999.
- Only Sheffield United have conceded more goals in all competitions this season than Manchester United (52). They are aiming to avoid letting in twice or more in six consecutive league games for the first time since November 1977.
- West Ham United have earned 17 points from 11 away league games thus far this term, already five more than they earned on the road in the whole of last season.
Player to Watch
Marcus Rashford
After a week that saw the wrong kind of headlines surrounding Marcus Rashford, he made news for the right reasons earlier this week against Wolverhampton Wanderers. The 26-year-old got Manchester United rolling before playing his part in Rasmus Hojlund’s goal. Meanwhile, he has a solid recent record against West Ham United.
Rashford has scored the winning and only goal in both of Manchester United’s last two Premier League home fixtures against West Ham. Three of his four league goals versus the Hammers have come as a substitute. While he should start on Sunday, he will be eager to continue his fine run against West Ham.
Prediction
Manchester United 2-1 West Ham United
Manchester United might have shown signs of a turnaround, but they are still not blowing their opponents away. The Red Devils left it too late against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Thursday, and Sunday’s match should not be any different.
While West Ham United have struggled to clinch wins in recent outings, they are on an unbeaten run right now. So, the Hammers will give their hosts a run for their money, with Jarrod Bowen continuing his fine form. But Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund should deliver the goods, earning the home side three points. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Erik ten Hag and his charges.
