Manchester United -v- West Ham United
Premier League
Old Trafford, Manchester
Sunday 11 May 2024, KO 14:15 BST
Manchester United return to Premier League football on Sunday afternoon as they welcome West Ham United to the Theatre of Dreams. United sit in 15th place in the Premier League with 39 points with the Hammers sitting in 17th place with 37 points, meaning they could go ahead of United if they beat them at Old Trafford.
United earned their place in the final of the UEFA Europa League on Thursday evening at Old Trafford with a 4-1 victory over Athletic Club – a 7-1 aggregate victory after United came back from 1-0 down, scoring four goals in the 18 minutes of the clash, still 3-1 ahead on aggregate after Bilbao scored, which is not too shabby.
United will need to prioritise the Europa League final where they will face Tottenham Hotspur, who sit between United and the Hammers at the time of writing with the winner of the clash earning a UEFA Champions League place next season with six English teams playing in the competition, which should be interesting.
United – Form, Goals Scored & Assists
Bilbao 4-1 W, Brentford 4-3 L, Bilbao 3-0 W, Bournemouth 1-1 D, Wolves 1-0 L, Lyon 5-4 W
Goals: 19 – Bruno Fernandes, 11 – Alejandro Garnacho, 10 – Amad, Rasmus Hojlund, 8 – Marcus Rashford, 7 – Joshua Zirkzee, 5 – Casemiro, 4 – Diogo Dalot, Christian Eriksen, Harry Maguire, 3 – Mason Mount, 2 – Matthijs de Ligt, Kobbie Mainoo, Lisandro Martinez, Manuel Ugarte, 1 – Antony, Jonny Evans, Leny Yoro
Assists: 17 – Bruno Fernandes, 10 – Alejandro Garnacho, 8 – Amad, 6 – Manuel Ugarte, 5 – Diogo Dalot, 5 – Christian Eriksen, 3 – Marcus Rashford, 2 – Casemiro, Rasmus Hojlund, Lisandro Martinez, Noussair Mazraoui, Joshua Zirkzee, 1 – Kobbie Mainoo, Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro
West Ham – Form, Goals Scored & Assists
Spurs 1-1 D, Brighton 3-1 L, Southampton 1-1 D, Liverpool 2-1 L, Bournemouth 2-2 D, Wolves 1-0 L
Goals: 11 – Jarrod Bowen, 8 – Tomas Soucek, 5 – Lucas Paquetá, 4 – Mohammed Kudus, 3 – Niclas Füllkrug, 2 – Emerson, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, 1 – Michail Antonio, Danny Ings, Carlos Soler, Crysencio Summerville
Assists: 9 – Jarrod Bowen, 3 – Mohammed Kudus, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, 2 – Niclas Füllkrug, Danny Ings, Maximilian Kilman, Tomas Soucek, Crysencio Summerville, 1 – Edson Álvarez, Michail Antonio, Emerson, Carlos Soler, James Ward-Prowse
Previous Meetings & Connections
United and West Ham have met 57 times in the Premier League with United winning 34 times, drawing 13 times and losing ten times. United have scored 107 goals, winning five penalties, scoring four. West Ham have scored 51 goals, winning five penalties, scoring four. United need to find some form and get a win at Old Trafford.
United have kept 22 clean sheets in these fixtures with the Hammers keeping nine clean sheets. Discipline is an issue between these two teams with United players shown 70 yellow cards and four red cards and West Ham players shown 84 yellow cards and two red cards. United will need to remain cool.
Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra, Michael Carrick, Teddy Sheringham, Javier Hernandez, Carlos Tevez, Roy Carroll, David Bellion, Jonathan Spector, Ravel Morrison, Jesse Lingard and Aaron Wan-Bissaka have all played for United and West Ham during their careers.
Team News
United: The Red Devils will be without seven players due to injury this weekend, but United could rotate the squad heavily as the priority this season should be the Europa League over the league as there is nothing to gain from it this season. Winning the Europa League will gain United Champions League football next season.
Ruled Out: Matthijs de Ligt (knee), Lisandro Martinez (knee), Jonny Evans (other), Ayden Heaven (ankle/foot), Diogo Dalot (calf/shin/heel), Toby Collyer (other) and Joshua Zirkzee (thigh)
Doubts: None
Suspended: None
West Ham: The Hammers have two absentees ahead of the trip to Manchester but other than that, they have a full squad to try and better their position in the Premier League. Their recent results have been uninspiring with no real achievement this season. United could grind out a win if they really wanted to, and they should!
Ruled Out: Crysencio Summerville (thigh) and Michail Antonio (calf/shin/heel)
Doubts: None
Suspended: None
Predicted United Starting XI – 3-4-2-1
Bayindir;
Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw;
Amass, Eriksen, Mainoo, Dorgu;
Amad, Fernandes;
Mount
Predicted West Ham Starting XI – 3-4-2-1
Areola;
Todibo, Kilman, Cresswell;
Wan-Bissaka, Soucek, Paqueta, Emerson;
Bowen, Kudus;
Fullkrug
History, training and the lead up to the big match
United and West Ham have met 155 times in all competitions during the history of both clubs. United have won 74 times, drawn 32 times and lost 49 times. United lost earlier this season when the teams met at the London Stadium with the Hammers winning 2-1 with Casemiro scoring United’s only goal.
Last season at Old Trafford, United won the match 3-0 with Rasmus Hojlund and a brace from Alejandro Garnacho winning the match for United. The Red Devils will be hoping to get a similar result against the Hammers this season with United requiring victories in the Premier League, although it is not a priority for the club.
United will be on cloud nine right now having set up their third ever Europa League final this season and will be hoping they can lift the trophy as they did eight years ago under the management of Jose Mourinho. Ruben Amorim has started something at the Old Trafford club and will be hoping that this summer changes are made.
Manchester United 2-1 West Ham United
Written by Paul
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