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19 hours ago
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The three points on offer tonight are precious for both teams. Should Manchester United claim them, they’ll go level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea. (If they want actual fourth place, they’ll need to win by nine goals this evening.) As for West Ham, they were bumped into the relegation places last night due to Leeds United’s victory over Chelsea. They need to win by a two-goal margin tonight if they’re to leapfrog Leeds back out of the dropzone.
Manchester United make three changes to the starting XI named for the 2-1 win at Crystal Palace. Matheus Cunha returns from injury, stepping up along with Noussair Mazraoui and Ayden Heaven. Leny Yoro and Mason Mount drop to the bench, while Matthijs de Ligt misses out altogether.
West Ham United make just one change from the team sent out for the 2-0 home defeat to Liverpool, and it’s enforced. Lucas Paquetá having talked himself into a suspension, Tomáš Souček comes in to take his place in midfield.
The teams
Manchester United: Lammens, Dalot, Heaven, Shaw, Diallo, Casemiro, Fernandes, Mazraoui, Mbeumo, Cunha, Zirkzee.
Subs: Bayindir, Martinez, Mount, Malacia, Dorgu, Yoro, Ugarte, Mainoo, Lacey.
West Ham United: Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Todibo, Diouf, Magassa, Potts, Bowen, Soucek, Fernandes, Wilson.
Subs: Hermansen, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Rodriguez, Irving, Earthy, Marshall, Mayers, Kante.
Referee: Andrew Kitchen
VAR: Peter Bankes
Preamble
West Ham United have beaten Manchester United in four of their last five Premier League meetings. Now then, three of those victories were at the London Stadium. But the most recent one was at Old Trafford in May, when the Hammers completed the double over the Red Devils for the first time since 2007, and there is no way the hosts will be going into this fixture counting their chickens. However while West Ham arrive in the north after a supine surrender to Liverpool at the weekend, Manchester United are coming off the back of a turnaround boost at Crystal Palace. So while the recent record between the two teams favours Nuno Espírito Santo’s men, the immediate form is with Ruben Amorim’s side. Balanced rather deliciously, then. Kick-off is at 8pm GMT. It’s on!
