The Big Match Tactical View: West Ham v Man Utd

Michael Cox
28 September 2018

Has Manuel Pellegrini found a winning formula at West Ham?

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Manchester United crashed out of the League Cup in midweek - can they bounce back here? Michael Cox and Alan Thompson preview the action.

"West Ham have looked much better in recent weeks, and I think this will be a fairly simple task for Pellegrini in a tactical sense"

West Ham v Manchester United
Saturday 12:30, Sky Sports 1.
Match Odds: West Ham 4.67/2, Manchester United 1.910/11, The Draw 3.814/5.

West Ham have recorded a couple of good results against Manchester United in recent years, and this fixture might be more evenly-contested than we'd have expected a couple of weeks ago.

West Ham revival?

After a disastrous start to their Premier League campaign, West Ham have suddenly found form - and have recorded three impressive results on the bounce, in very different ways.

First, there was the excellent 3-1 victory away at Everton, which demonstrated the Hammers' counter-attacking potential and the danger of speedy right-winger Andriy Yarmolenko, who helped himself to two goals on debut. Then came last weekend's goalless draw with Chelsea, which could well have been a victory had Yarmolenko not missed a simple late headed chance. Finally, there was the midweek win over Macclesfield - the easiest opposition imaginable, but 8-0 is nevertheless a confidence-boosting result.

Of those games, it's probably the stalemate against Chelsea that is most significant ahead of this one. West Ham largely defended well, and created some decent chances on the break wasted by stand-in centre-forward Michail Antonio. With Marko Arnautovic, out injured last week, expected to return in time for this contest, the same formula could work very nicely for Manuel Pellegrini's side.

Things have improved in midfield, too. Jack Wilshere's absence might be a blessing in disguise, with Declan Rice looking impressive and bringing some structure to the side alongside Pablo Obiang and Mark Noble. Suddenly West Ham's defence looks more secure, helped by the fact they're playing a slightly deeper defensive line compared to the opening weeks, too.

Difficulties for Mourinho

Manchester United, on the other hand, find themselves in difficulty after last weekend's disappointing showing in a 1-1 draw against Wolves, and then the midweek cup exit to Derby. Jose Mourinho's squabble with Paul Pogba won't have improved the mood in the dressing room, and United appear one of the few Premier League sides even less harmonious than West Ham.

Mourinho wasn't exactly complimentary about Phil Jones and Eric Bailly's penalty-taking ability after the Derby match, suggesting he doesn't have much faith in either in general. Victor Lindelhof and Chris Smalling should continue with Luke Shaw and Antonio Valencia either side.

Pogba will presumably continue in midfield - but you never know - with Nemanja Matic likely to return in the holding role. Fred, who was impressive in last weekend's contest against Wolves, scoring a fine opener, should also continue.

Martial could start over Sanchez

Going forward, Alexis Sanchez continues to frustrate on the left, and this is perhaps an opportunity to use Anthony Martial, who seems to have recovered from his own spat with Mourinho in the summer. Pablo Zabaleta never liked playing against quick left-wingers, even at his peak, and here he might be targeted with a speedy dribbler and the overlapping Shaw.

Romelu Lukaku will continue upfront and has a good record against West Ham, with Jesse Lingard or Juan Mata likely to drift inside from the right.

West Ham have looked much better in recent weeks, and I think this will be a fairly simple task for Pellegrini in a tactical sense - he can use the same template as against Chelsea, and hope that the return of Arnautovic upfront increases West Ham's level of attacking threat.

A disjointed Manchester United appear too short, at 1.910/11, and therefore I will lay the away side.

The Betfair Trader's View - Alan Thompson

The Red Devils will be determined to bounce back from their EFL Cup defeat against Derby County midweek. After drawing 2-2 at home against Championship opponents Jose Mourinho’s men were knocked out on penalties, putting even more pressure on the under fire manager.

All is definitely not well at Old Trafford and after being held to a 1-1 draw against Wolves in their last league match, I certainly wouldn’t be keen on taking odds on 1.9520/21 about them beating a resurgent West Ham United.

The Hammers have now gone three games unbeaten in all competitions thanks to positive results against Everton and Chelsea, as well as the confidence building thumping they gave Macclesfield on Wednesday evening.

This game finished 0-0 last season and on the back of Manuel Pellegrini’s side keeping out Chelsea last time, I think this could well be another low scoring encounter. Four of the last five meetings between these two in London has resulted in a scoreline that would produce a winning bet on under 2.5 goals. That market (Under 2.5 goals) is currently trading at 2.0811/10 and I think that price is more than fair.

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