West Ham vs Man Utd Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 English Premier League
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THE FACTS
When is West Ham vs Man Utd on and what time does it start? West Ham vs Man Utd will take place on Saturday 23rd December, 2023 – 12:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for West Ham vs Man Utd? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is West Ham vs Man Utd on in the UK? Television rights for the Premier League in the UK are shared between Sky Sports, TNT Sports and Amazon Prime so it is worth checking their schedules for West Ham vs Man Utd
Where can I stream West Ham vs Man Utd in the UK? If West Ham vs Man Utd is televised, then it can be streamed on either Sky Go, discovery+ or Amazon Prime Video depending on who is broadcasting the match
THE LOWDOWN
WEST HAM
David Moyes’ West Ham come into this one on the back of being thrashed by five goals to one by Liverpool at Anfield in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup on Wednesday evening. The Hammers rested the likes of Kurt Zouma, James Ward-Prowse and Lucas Paqueta from the start in that match as they seemingly prioritised mounting a top-seven challenge once again.
They comfortably defeated Wolves by three goals to nil last weekend, meaning they had suffered just one defeat in their last nine matches across all competitions before that loss at Anfield. They begin the weekend sitting tucked inside the top half of the table and now just a point behind Man Utd.
MAN UTD
Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United have been really poor this season and yet remain in the top seven ahead of the 18th match day of the campaign. The Red Devils have played 25 matches across all competitions so far this year but they have managed just 11 victories with nine of those wins coming either by a goal or with a dramatic late winner or turnaround.
United did manage to stand firm last weekend, though, as they held on for a goalless draw at Anfield against rivals Liverpool. That much-needed bit of resistance came just a few days after a really underwhelming exit from the group stages of the UEFA Champions League, losing by a goal to nil to Bayern Munich. They have one win in their last six matches across all competitions.
THE TEAM NEWS
WEST HAM
David Moyes is consistently coy on team selection and injuries but it is known that both Maxwel Cornet and Nayef Ageurd have been affected by illness this week and will be doubts for this weekend.
The Hammers boss is blessed with one of the shorter injury lists in the Premier League, though, with only one definite absentee and that is their Jamaican international striker, Michail Antonio, struggling with a hamstring issue.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Coufal, Zouma, Kehrer, Emerson; Soucek, Alvarez; Kudus, Ward-Prowse, Paqueta; Bowen
UNAVAILABLE: Antonio (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Ageurd (Illness), Cornet (Illness)
MAN UTD
Erik ten Hag has had to cope with an enormous amount of injuries throughout this season. United have begun to welcome some players back but key men, such as Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro, remaining long-term injury absentees.
Captain Bruno Fernandes will return after serving a one-match suspension last weekend but his Portugal teammate, Diogo Dalot, will be suspended after picking up a red card against Liverpool. The likes of Harry Maguire and Mason Mount remain out injured, whilst Christian Eriksen may return.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Evans, Varane, Shaw; Amrabat, McTominay; Antony, Fernandes, Garnacho; Hojlund
UNAVAILABLE: Martinez (Injured), Maguire (Injured), Dalot (Suspended), Malacia (Injured), Casemiro (Injured), Mount (Injured), Sancho (Disciplinary), Diallo (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Lindelof (Injured), Eriksen (Injured), Martial (Illness)
THE PREDICTION
Manchester United, as mentioned, have 11 wins so far this season. They have been against FC Copenhagen in the UEFA Champions League and Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup, while their nine Premier League wins have come by a single goal against 20th, 19th, 18th, 17th, three goals against 16th, a single goal against 13th, 12th, 11th and tenth. They now face a West Ham team that, at the London Stadium, will be confident of piling the pressure onto Ten Hag and his side. Backing The Irons to bounce back from their disappointing cup exit in midweek seems the way to go for this one.
TIP: WEST HAM TO WIN
