Manchester United Match Preview

After their unbeaten away run ended at Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, West Ham United will look to build on their first home win but they might find it hard to do so, as Manchester United arrive in Stratford this afternoon.

Having found it difficult to beat his former club on several occasions, it wasn’t until May 2023 that former manager David Moyes recorded his first Premier League victory against them. The Scotsman then went on to help the East Londoners to successive home triumphs over the Red Devils. Can Julen Lopetegui keep that record going?

The hosts might fancy their chances again here, as Erik ten Hag’s side have showed a lack of consistency so far this campaign and the Irons will be hoping to take advantage. Another factor that is in the home side’s favour is that they will be the fresher of the two sides, given that their opponents were in UEFA Europa League action against Turkish outfit Fenerbahçe SK just three days ago, whereas they have had a full week to reflect on the defeat by Ange Postecoglou’s men and prepare for this game.

The visitors will also be wanting to claim a positive result, as they try to pick up only their fourth victory of the campaign having come from behind to earn maximum points at home to Brentford last weekend.

Lopetegui named the same starting line-up for the third match running a week ago but, with Mohammed Kudus having to serve a three-match suspension following his straight red card in North London, he will have to make a change to his starting line-up with either Carlos Soler, Crysencio Summerville or Edson Álvarez replacing him. However, If the Spaniard decides to make further alterations, then either Konstantinos Mavropanos or Vladimír Coufal may take the place of Jean-Clair Todibo in defence.

When the Hammers Head-Coach spoke to the assembled media ahead of this fixture on Friday, there was no further update on the fitness of striker Niclas Füllkrug, meaning Michail Antonio is likely to retain his place upfront but with the loss of Kudus in attack, then there is always the option of Danny Ings from the substitutes bench. Aaron Wan-Bissaka is hoping to retain his place and feature against his former club for the first time since leaving Old Trafford in the summer.

The match is a 2pm kick-off and the referee is David Coote.