Key events
Oh dear. I’ve started a debate here. Mac Millings says:
Regarding your 36th-minute question (‘How many of these West Ham players would get in the current United XI?’), since West Ham are clearly superior, might the answer be ‘All of them’?
Grab yourself a half-time brew and enjoy the only goal of this game so far, via Rasmus.
I asked a question on 36 minutes about how many West Ham players would get into the current Manchester United XI and Joe Pearson attempts an answer on email:
Given Ten Hag’s eccentric squad selections, I’d say there’s no way to tell. Zouma? Mavropanos? Ings? Yes, definitely Ings!
I’m not having Danny Ings in my combined lineup, Joe, but maybe that’s just me. Here’s a rough estimation: Onana, Dalot, Zouma, Martinez, Shaw, JWP, Casemiro, Kudus, Fernandes, Bowen, Rashford
HT: Manchester United 1-0 West Ham
The hosts do at least finish the half by creating a chance for Højlund, who drills into the side netting as the angle from the left was tightening. United have the lead through the Dane, but they’ve not dominated the game by any stretch of the imagination.
West Ham have carved out numerous chances and will feel they ought to be on the scoreboard here. André Onana has made a couple of smart saves to keep it at 1-0.
45 mins: We’re now into one minute of added time.
The half-time whistle would very much suit United. Ten Hag might want to fire a few rockets up his players in the dressing room.
43 mins: It’s all West Ham at the end of this first half. Ward-Prowse is making them tick, while Kudus has been excellent. JWP fires one well wide from distance.
41 mins: Another West Ham corner brings about a header from Alvarez that is flashed across the face of goal. It was just behind Kudus who was lingering, waiting to turn one in.
40 mins: The United fans are getting a bit restless with their team’s slow tempo in possession, while Casemiro and Fernandes exchange a few words in frustration with each other.
The home side lead but they can play a lot better than this. West Ham continue to threaten an equaliser.
38 mins: The game’s first yellow card goes to Soucek for a ridiculously cynical trip on Rashford as United were counterattacking.
36 mins: How many of these West Ham players would get in the current United XI?
Kudus, Ward-Prowse, maybe Bowen? Areola?
35 mins: Casemiro over-commits with a sliding tackle and it allows West Ham to fling players forward … Martinez doesn’t err with his challenge in the box, though. Good from the Argentinian.
33 mins: For once, West Ham get their final ball wrong – Kudus’ cross was overhit – but United are struggling to find their flow in midfield.
31 mins: Onana saves again, this time from Kudus who peels away from Diogo Dalot at the back post to meet Bowen’s cross with a header that the United keeper telegraphed.
30 mins: United are getting undone in the middle far too often for their liking, but a thumping Martinez tackle gets them out of trouble on this occasion, before Mainoo progresses it forward.
The 18-year-old is doing a lot of the important dirty work at the moment.
28 mins: West Ham are certainly having their fair share of shots. Another Johnson effort, this time from distance, is beaten away by Onana.
This is very open.
26 mins: Luke Shaw gives away a cheap free-kick and West Ham are pushing for an equaliser straight away. Martinez blocks Johnson’s shot away.
25 mins: Rasmus Højlund really has found his feet in terms of Premier League goalscoring, hasn’t it?
Not sure about that celebration mind – an awkward hop is the best way I can describe it.
GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 West Ham (Højlund, 23)
Delighftul feet from Højlund!
It’s well won by Casemiro in midfield after a loose West Ham header and then the Dane picks it up, drives and works it wonderfully onto his right foot to hammer it home.
22 mins: Chelsea have been pegged back to 1-1 after leading Wolves 1-0, while Bournemouth are ahead against Nottingham Forest by a goal.
21 mins: After a nervy wait among the United fans, Ward-Prowse powers it straight into the wall, but it’s still West Ham who are keeping the pressure on at the moment. Kudus is a livewire.
19 mins: United are furious as Martinez is penalised for diving in on Kudus on the edge of the box … he appeared to win the ball but went through the player to do so. JWP territory, this.
18 mins: West Ham go Route One and Johnson nearly muscles in behind the United defence. He’s usually a full-back but he’s often been his side’s most advanced player in this game.
Soucek’s shot is deflected wide.
16 mins: Fernandes lines up a lovely dipping shot that was destined for the corner before Areola palmed it away.
Another United corner is worked short but Dalot’s shot is a lot less dangerous and the Hammers’ keeper gathers again.
15 mins: United appeal for an Emerson handball in the box and their fans are subsequently mocked by the West Ham faithful. It then bounces back out but Rashford tries to slalom through and Zouma bails it out for a corner.
13 mins: Zouma makes a nuisance of himself in the United box as Ward-Prowse takes another set-piece but the hosts can clear, before Garnacho is on the receiving end of a hefty Soucek challenge.
11 mins: A huge save from Onana following a deflection in the United box!
Brilliant reactions from the United goalkeeper.
10 mins: West Ham corner. They got it forward rather easily tne, with Johnson ghosting into space out wide and hitting it off Casemiro.
9 mins: Garnacho gets into a half space inside the West Ham box, but he’s soon shut out. United then want a free-kick for a shove on Mainoo but there’s nothing doing.
7 mins: The Old Trafford crowd noise has died down a bit and it’s all rather lukewarm at the moment, United enjoying the bulk of possession but doing little with it.
5 mins: “Champions of Europe, we know what we are,” sing the West Ham fans.
Hmm, really not sure about that chant, sorry lads.
3 mins: We wondered whether it would be a back five from the Hammers and it seems Ben Johnson is playing as a genuine right-winger rather than as a wing-back.
The visitors are not afraid to employ a high press here.
2 mins: The home side begin positively, looking to move the ball quickly, with Rashford heavily marshaled by West Ham whenever he gets it on the United left.
KICK OFF
Time for the talking to stop. We’re under way.
Right, we’re almost ready to rock and roll at Old Trafford. Where’s yer money? Will Manchester United produce a proper performance, or will they provide the usual thrills and spills? And can West Ham upset the applecart once more?
As one Manchester United team wrap up victory in the WSL, can their male counterparts do the same?
“He can make impact today from the bench hopefully”
David Moyes shares his thoughts ahead of the game at Old Trafford
pic.twitter.com/EhbtnAuKkp
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 4, 2024
What of West Ham, then? Remarkably, they’ve lost just once in the Premier League since 4 November (although that was a 5-0 defeat to Fulham) yet they’ve failed to win their past five games in all competitions since back-to-back 2-0 victories over Man United and Arsenal. Hence there is a degree of pressure on David Moyes, which there always seems to be. The Hammers are looking to do the double over United for the first time in 17 seasons.
Can United finish fourth or fifth this season and qualify for the Champions League? These two think so.
“I still believe they can get fifth”
Gary Neville and Roy Keane believe Manchester United can have a positive end to the season
pic.twitter.com/LPhu4kOgfH
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 4, 2024
Manchester United pay tribute to the victims of the Munich air disaster this afternoon, with the 66th anniversary of the crash coming up on Tuesday. Fans gathered around the memorial plaque before kick-off, while 48 relatives of players who died in the accident have been invited by the club to attend today’s game.
Ten Hag has confirmed the decision to swap Varane for Maguire in the United defence today is tactical.
He told MUTV: “First of all, H (Maguire) was doing very well but picked up an injury, Raphaël is also doing very well, but a third game in. We didn’t want to change too much, it’s up to Harry to show his contribution, but we’re confident that he will.”
Some pre-match reading for you here, as Jamie Jackson attemps to answer the question on everyone’s lips around Old Trafford:
It’s just the one change for Manchester United from their dramatic 4-3 victory at Wolves, with Harry Maguire slotting into the defence in place of Raphaël Varane. You’d say the England man was suited to this type of game, with West Ham strong from set-pieces. United are able to welcome back Sofyan Amrabat from AFCON duty – although Kobbie Mainoo’s form means the Moroccan is on the bench.
Coufal’s return means it’s a change of shape for West Ham, who are playing five at the back, with Phillips dropping out of the midfield to the bench. Aguerd comes in for Mavrapanos.
Both clubs, however, need to take a long look at themselves and stop publishing their teams on social media in squad number order. It’s hideous.
Team news
Manchester United: Onana, Dalot, Maguire, Martínez, Shaw, Mainoo, Casemiro, Fernandes, Garnacho, Rashford, Højlund
Subs: Bayindir, Varane, Lindelöf, Amrabat, McTominay, Eriksen, Amad, Antony, Forson
West Ham: Areola, Johnson, Coufal, Aguerd, Zouma, Emerson, Ward-Prowse, Álvarez, Soucek, Kudus, Bowen
Subs: Fabianski, Cresswell, Ogbonna, Mavrapanos, Phillips, Scarles, Cornet, Ings Mubama
Preamble
Hey Sunday gang. Welcome to another barnstorming day in the Premier League. Well, we hope it will be anyway, after yesterday’s absolute goal glut: 26 goals scored in just five games represented a veritable feast and it’s now the turn of Manchester United and West Ham to try and provide a similar offering.
Erik ten Hag’s team are on the brink of the unthinkable; three points would mean they’d go five games unbeaten for the first time this season and string together three back-to-back wins for just the second time, last doing so in October with unconvincing triumphs over Brentford (Scott McTominay’s added time brace), Sheffield United (Diogo Dalot thunderbolt to beat a poor team 2-1) and Copenhagen (last gasp penalty save in a 1-0).
How West Ham would love to slam the brakes on United’s momentum, as they did just before Christmas with a hard-fought 2-0 victory at the London Stadium. Nayef Aguerd could return for them after AFCON duty, Vladimir Coufal is back from suspension while on-loan Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips could feature again.
Kick-off is at 2pm GMT. And it’s LIVE, etc etc.
