West Ham vs Man Utd Preview: Team News & Prediction | Can the Red Devils go on a run?
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Two under-pressure managers go head-to-head as Julen Lopetegui's West Ham entertain Erik ten Hag's Man Utd on Sunday.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Sunday 27th October, 2024: UK – 2:00pm / US ET – 10:00am / US PT – 7:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – Peacock Premium
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – Premier League on Peacock
WEST HAM PREVIEW: STUTTERING HAMMERS
Just when the Hammers looked like they had turned a corner following the 4-1 win over Ipswich before the international break, they then proceeded to lose by that same scoreline to Spurs last week, despite taking the lead through Mohammed Kudus after just 18 minutes.
Defensive solidity has been a real issue for West Ham in recent times. In fact, stretching back to last season, they have kept just one clean sheet in their last 26 Premier League encounters.
MAN UTD PREVIEW: STILL UNCONVINCING
The come-from-behind win over Brentford last weekend ended a three-game winless run in the Premier League, but Erik ten Hag is still a long way off convincing the Old Trafford faithful that he is the right man for the job.
Former manager Jose Mourinho prevented Man Utd from claiming their first Europa League win of the season when his Fenerbahce side came from behind to draw 1-1 in Istanbul on Thursday. The Red Devils have so far drawn all three of their games in the inaugural league phase.
WEST HAM TEAM NEWS: KUDUS BANNED
Lopetegui offered no fitness updates in his press conference so it can only be assumed that Niclas Fullkrug is the only concern, with the summer signing having not taken to the pitch for close to two months.
Mohammed Kudus begins his three-match suspension for his late red card against Spurs, and there is some talk that his ban could be extended for his violent conduct.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson; Rodriguez, Alvarez; Bowen, Soucek, Paqueta; Antonio
UNAVAILABLE: Kudus (Suspended)
QUESTIONABLE: Fullkrug (Injured)
MAN UTD TEAM NEWS: SEVEN DEFINITELY OUT
Antony lasted just 16 minutes before being stretchered off on Thursday, and he joins Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire, Tyrell Malacia, Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount on the sidelines.
Ten Hag expects to have Jonny Evans available after the centre-back missed the Fenerbahce clash, while Bruno Fernandes is also set to return to the team.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Onana; Dalot, De Ligt, Evans, Martinez; Eriksen, Casemiro; Rashford, Fernandes, Garnacho; Hojlund
UNAVAILABLE: Yoro (Injured), Maguire (Injured), Malacia (Injured), Shaw (Injured), Mainoo (Injured), Mount (Injured), Antony (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Evans (Injured)
WEST HAM VS MAN UTD PREDICTION
It may surprise some that Man Utd have lost just one of their last nine games in all competitions, but that run includes a succession of draws against teams that you'd argue they should be beating. Failure to overcome a struggling West Ham side would do Erik ten Hag absolutely no favours, although it is a relatively quick turnaround following their Thursday evening exertions in the Europa League.
West Ham, amidst their defensive frailties, have at least been finding the net fairly regularly. They have only failed to score once in their ten games in all competitions this season, so backing a high-scoring game makes sense here.
WEST HAM VS MAN UTD TIP: OVER 3.5 GOALS
