Verdict: Manchester United win
Best Odds: 4/9
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
Looking to make it consecutive Premier League victories on Thursday night, Manchester United will welcome West Ham to Old Trafford.
Manchester United
Starting with the hosts, while Manchester United might have marked their return from November’s international break with a shock 1-0 loss at home against Everton, Ruben Amorim’s men claimed an immediate response last time out. Mounting an eye-catching second-half comeback away at Crystal Palace as they eventually felt south London with a 2-1 victory, the former Sporting Lisbon boss has his sights firmly set on clinching an essential European return this season. Knowing that they could potentially find a route into the Champions League spots, the Red Devils have suffered just a single defeat from any of their previous seven domestic appearances. It should also be highlighted, despite that toothless loss at the hands of Everton last week, Man United have won each of their other four Premier League showdowns at Old Trafford.
Manchester United Team News
Picking up a knee injury against Tottenham prior to November’s international break, Manchester United are once again expected to be without former RB Leipzig marksman Benjamin Sesko. However, despite once again missing out against Crystal Palace over the weekend, Matheus Cunha should return to Amorim’s squad on Thursday.
Making a cameo appearance off the bench on Sunday, Lisandro Martinez could get some more minutes under his belt here. Despite reportedly picking up a minor knock in south London a few days ago, talismanic skipper Bruno Fernandes will feature at Old Trafford.
West Ham
As for the visitors, while West Ham might have shown some real signs of life on either side of November’s international break, new boss Nuno Espírito Santo saw his squad put in an abject display over the weekend. Failing to find any kind of fluidity and falling to a 2-0 loss at home against reigning Premier League champions Liverpool, the Hammers find themselves at the heart of a relegation scrap. Getting the midweek fixtures underway with just their goal difference keeping them outside the drop zone, the former Nottingham Forest boss has a major job on his hands in east London. Showing a string of glaring defensive issues this season, Thursday’s guests have already shipped 27 Premier League goals and hold the second-worst defensive tally among England’s elite.
West Ham Team News
Shown what was a petulant red card against Liverpool on Sunday, Brazilian international Lucas Paqueta will once again serve a domestic suspension here. Likewise, once again missing out in east London, West Ham are still sweating over the fitness of former Leeds talisman Crysencio Summerville in midweek.
While skipper Jarrod Bowen might have failed to find the net since the end of September, the England international will shoulder plenty of West Ham’s attacking threat. Returning from a hamstring injury over the weekend, Konstantinos Mavropanos will keep his spot at the heart of Santo’s defence.
Manchester United vs West Ham Key Factors to Consider
- When Manchester United last welcomed West Ham to Old Trafford back on May 11th, the Hammers picked up a shock 2-0 victory.
- However, that is the only Premier League win that Santo’s side have recorded at Old Trafford since way back in May 2007.
- The Red Devils have won four of their last five Premier League showdowns at Old Trafford.
- Man United have recorded just a single clean sheet in the red half of Manchester so far this season.
- Already shipping 27 Premier League goals this season, the Hammers hold the second-worst defensive tally among England’s elite.
Conclusion
While West Ham might have claimed a shock 2-0 victory when they last travelled to Old Trafford back in May, the Hammers look set for what is a monumental challenge here. Watching Manchester United make an immediate return to winning ways over the weekend as they mounted a second-half comeback away at Crystal Palace, Amorim’s men will be smelling a golden opportunity here. Winning four of their previous five Premier League showdowns in the red half of Manchester, we are expecting a similar outcome at Old Trafford.
Verdict: Manchester United win
Best Odds: 4/9
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
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