Introduction
The Premier League is back with a bang as West Ham United take on Manchester United in a highly anticipated clash on Sunday. Both teams have started their campaign with mixed results and will be looking to put on a good show for the fans.
Team News
West Ham will be without their star striker Michail Antonio who suffered a hamstring injury in the last game. This will be a big blow for the Hammers who will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing loss to Newcastle United. On the other hand, Manchester United have a relatively injury-free squad with only Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe out of contention.
Key Battles
The match will see some interesting battles between the players. One of the key battles to watch out for will be between West Ham’s Declan Rice and Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes in midfield. Both players have been crucial for their respective teams and will be looking to dominate the midfield battle.
Another battle that could be decisive is between West Ham’s Vladimir Coufal and Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford on the left flank. Coufal has been a solid defender for the Hammers and will be looking to keep Rashford quiet. However, Rashford’s pace and dribbling skills could prove to be a handful for the Czech international.
Tactics
West Ham have been playing with a 4-2-3-1 formation with Pablo Fornals playing behind the striker. However, with Michail Antonio out injured, David Moyes could opt for a more defensive approach and play with a 5-3-2 formation. This could see Fornals drop back and play alongside Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek in midfield.
Manchester United have been playing with a 4-2-3-1 formation with Bruno Fernandes playing in the number 10 role. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could stick with the same formation and look to dominate the midfield battle with Fernandes and Paul Pogba pulling the strings.
Prediction
It’s difficult to predict the outcome of this game as both teams have been inconsistent so far this season. However, Manchester United have a better squad on paper and should be able to come away with a narrow win. Prediction: West Ham 1-2 Manchester United.
Conclusion
The West Ham vs Manchester United game promises to be an exciting encounter with both teams looking to get back to winning ways. With key battles all over the pitch, it will be interesting to see which team comes out on top. Will it be David Moyes’ West Ham or Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United? Only time will tell.
