West Ham vs Manchester United Preview
- Draw or West Ham win
- Under 3.5 goals
West Ham’s decision to replace David Moyes with Julen Lopetegui has yet to pay off, as the Hammers find themselves with only eight points from their opening eight Premier League games (W2, D2, L4).
Their latest setback was a heavy 4-1 defeat to Tottenham, which left Lopetegui “very disappointed” and dealing with mounting frustration from fans.
Despite this, West Ham did win their last home game 4-1 against Ipswich, giving them a chance to secure back-to-back home league victories for the first time since December.
They’ll be encouraged by their recent record against Manchester United at home, having won the last two league encounters at the London Stadium without conceding a goal.
If they manage to keep a clean sheet again, it would be the first time in West Ham’s league history that they’ve kept United scoreless in three consecutive home matches.
Meanwhile, Manchester United’s troubles continue, as they struggle both domestically and in the UEFA Europa League.
Erik ten Hag’s side surrendered a lead to draw 1-1 with Fenerbahçe in midweek, marking their third consecutive European match without a win and extending their wait for a European victory to 12 months.
United’s struggles are compounded by a lacklustre record in London, winning only two of their last 17 top-flight matches in the capital (D5, L10). Notably, they have lost more Premier League games at the London Stadium (four) than they did in 20 visits to West Ham’s former ground, Upton Park (three).
Key Battles and Players to Watch
Jarrod Bowen (West Ham): With Mohammed Kudus suspended, West Ham’s attacking focus will fall heavily on Bowen. He scored the opener in this fixture last season, and all three of his goals this season have come in the second half, indicating he could be a danger late in the game.
Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United): Returning from a midweek suspension, Fernandes will be hoping to end his scoring drought against West Ham, as he’s yet to find the net in 12 meetings with the Hammers — the longest streak against any one club in his United career.
Prediction
Both teams have points to prove and would benefit greatly from a victory here, but recent form suggests this could be a hard-fought encounter with few clear chances.
Given West Ham’s recent home record against United and United’s poor run in London, a low-scoring draw seems likely.
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