The games are coming thick and fast now, with United down in London today for the first of two meetings with West Ham this coming week; the Hammers make the trip north to Old Trafford for our Carabao Cup third round tie on Wednesday. It's a 14:00 kickoff (UK time) in the capital this afternoon, with domestic viewers finally able to see Cristiano Ronaldo back in Premier League action live on UK TV.
United are undoubtedly going to be eager to put things right after tasting defeat in Bern against Young Boys in midweek, where a combination of Aaron Wan-Bissaka's red card and Jesse Lingard's late error saw the reds return home without even a point. On a more positive note, United did enter this gameweek at the head of the Premier League table after an unbeaten start to the campaign - with points only dropped away to Southampton prior to the international break. It's only the second time in 10 years that United have managed to remain unbeaten in their opening four league matches. There was a blatant feel good factor last weekend, with Ronaldo proving his worth as he returned to Old Trafford and catalysed an emphatic 4-1 victory over Newcastle.
Victory over Wolves at the end of August saw United break the Premier League record for the longest unbeaten run away from home in the competition's history, extending the spell to 28 matches without defeat. However, Solskjaer's side are yet to score more than a single goal on the road this season. Of the 11 goals scored in the opening four league matches this term, only two have come on our travels. Defensively, however, we have been notoriously assured on away trips: during the 28 match unbeaten run, only 19 goals have been conceded with 13 clean sheets kept.
United were boosted this week as both Alex Telles and Scott McTominay returned to full training, with the former absent ever since our Surrey pre-season training camp in July. Marcus Rashford is now back in light training, with his agency suggesting he is still a few weeks off a return but hopes to get some behind closed door minutes in the not too distant future. Amad is still absent with the injury with saw his late summer loan move collapse, though Dean Henderson and Phil Jones are nearing a return following gametime with the under-23s. It's hoped that Edinson Cavani may be able to re-enter the fray during the upcoming midweek encounter with West Ham.
Today's hosts are crucially without Michail Antonio - joint Premier League top scorer (with Bruno Fernandes) - after he picked up two yellow cards against Southampton last weekend. Aside from that suspension, Winston Reid is the only other absentee.
West Ham managed to win their opening two matches of the Premier League campaign, scoring four against both Newcastle and Leicester. They have marginally faltered in domestic terms since, drawing twice but nonetheless remaining unbeaten; a goalless draw against Southampton last week came subsequent to a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace, placing them eighth in the standings. The Hammers are unbeaten in their first four league matches for the first time since 1999, and could equal the club’s Premier League record of remaining unbeaten in their opening five matches with avoidance of defeat today.
David Moyes' side did manage respond and return to winning ways during the week with their first win in European competition since 1999, beating Dinamo Zagreb 2-0 away from home in the Europa League on Thursday night. West Ham's European participation comes thanks to a stellar 2020/21 campaign, which saw them finish an impressive sixth.
It was triple delight for United against today's opposition last campaign, despite the overall joy of the campaign for the reds' first post-Fergie manager. At the London Stadium, Solskjaer's side overcame a single-goal half time deficit to take three points - with a flurry of rapid-fire goals from Paul Pogba, Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford. Two 1-0 wins followed at Old Trafford: Scott McTominay sealed an FA Cup victory after extra time in February, before a Craig Dawson own goal handed United the win a month later.
Against teams in the top four last season, West Ham rather struggled and failed to win on any of their attempts - losing seven of the eight matches. Furthermore, David Moyes has still only won three of 28 managerial Premier League matches against United (all coming whilst in charge of Everton). The reds have only lost seven times against West Ham in 50 Premier League meetings, with last season's double meaning they have now won on 30 occasions. However, United have only managed to win consecutive away matches against West Ham during one spell in the Premier League - winning three times in succession up until 2011.
It's likely going to be a tough test, but it's certainly an opportunity for this squad to really display their character.
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