On Wednesday 22nd September David Moyes brings his team up to Old Trafford for the Red Devils’ first Carabao Cup game of the season. Both teams will more than likely look quite different to how they lined up against each other at the weekend in the Premier League.
West Ham come into this game with something of a point to prove. After not grabbing the opportunity to snatch a point at the last minute in the League. They could approach this game with a bit more of a fight and determination. Furthermore, the Hammers will have main man, Michail Antonio back in the fold for them. After missing the League game due to suspension, he will provide a serious goal threat for the opposition. With players such as Yarmolenko potentially coming into the fold and Mark Noble giving either Rice or Soucek a rest. West Ham could still field a reasonably strong side.
Having said that, I don’t expect Manchester United to struggle greatly against this side. We come into this game with a lot of confidence off the back of a dramatic win against the same time on the weekend. I expect Ole to rotate quite heavily. However, that is something that no longer brings a great deal of worry. With players like Lindelof, Telles and Dalot available at the back. Donny van de Beek will surely get a game here, perhaps alongside Nemanja Matic. I expect to see Jesse Lingard lineup alongside some combination of Edinson Cavani, Anthony Martial and either Jadon Sancho or Mason Greenwood. However Solksjær chooses to set up, I expect to see a more comfortable and assured performance from the Red Devils.
I think this is a tournament that Ole will be taking quite seriously. There seems to be a great deal of pressure for some kind of silverware this season, as there always should be at Manchester United. However in recent seasons it has felt as though in order to win a trophy we would have to sacrifice some other campaign due to a lack of squad depth. This doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. Ole has been slowly building a strong squad. A squad that is more than capable of competing on multiple fronts. Hopefully, we can continue a good run of form with a convincing win in the Carabao Cup.