This weekend, United return to Premier League duty and travel to East London to take on Manuel Pellegrini’s West Ham. The Reds will be looking to build on last weekend’s 1-0 victory against Leicester whilst the Hammers will be hoping to bounce back from a disappointing draw with Aston Villa.
Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer has confirmed that Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial and Luke Shaw are all still unavailable and has also cast doubts over whether Daniel James will be fit in time after picking up a knock last weekend. West Ham are without full-back Arthur Masuaku and winger Michael Antonio with the former being suspended and the latter picking up a hamstring injury that is expected to keep him out until the new year.
Thursday night’s frustrating Europa League win over FC Astana provided the chance for a few players to stake a claim to a starting eleven position. Axel Tuanzebe looked comfortable and assertive at the back and won more defensive aerial duels (6/8) than any other player and Fred was arguably one of the best players on the pitch on his return with him registering; the most passes, most touches, most recoveries and most chances created. Tahith Chong, Angel Gomes and Mason Greenwood all started the game much to the fans’ delight, and whilst Chong might not have had his best game in a red shirt, Gomes and Greenwood did their reputations no harm whatsoever, with Mason grabbing the winner with his first ever senior goal for United. Fans will be eagerly anticipating the team sheets on Sunday to see if they feature.
Despite limping to a miserable draw against Aston Villa last weekend, West Ham have more than enough firepower to trouble United’s back line. Their record signing, Sebastien Haller has 3 goals in 4 appearances since joining from Frankfurt in the summer and Brazilian winger, Felipe Anderson has registered a shot on goal every 37 minutes so far in the league. Both will be looking to cause problems for United who (along with Leicester and Liverpool) currently boast the joint best defence in the league.
Both teams are currently on 8 points in the league, with United sitting 4th (+4 GD) and West Ham sitting 8th (-1 GD). A win for the Hammers would move them ahead of United and a win for the Reds (dependent on other results over the weekend) would keep them in the top four – which most fans have agreed is our goal for the season.
Despite missing our key men, fans will be hoping that Solsjkaer can get his team sheet and tactics right and grab a win at a stadium where Jose Mourinho’s team were ‘hammered’ 3-1 last season.