Manchester United heads to West Ham United tomorrow for a match that both sides really need to have. For the Hammers, they need to establish themselves as a side that’s going to at least compete for a spot in the Europa League, as a top four finish seems highly unlikely this season.
Given the big splash they made in hiring Manuel Pellegrini as manager, and the money spent in the summer transfer window, the London club has to be regarded among the biggest let-downs and disappointments of the young Premier League season. As of now, they sit just above the relegation zone.
For United, they are fresh off a very embarrassing loss to Championship side Derby in the EFL Cup, and the relationship between the manager, Jose Mourinho, and the star player, Paul Pogba, has reached new depths.
United have to really get going now if they’re going to eventually secure a place in the top four, and they a need a win to show the league that they can still succeed despite all the tension and dissension within the ranks.
Looking at the injury and fitness situations, United’s only injury absentee, is a long-term one- defender Marcos Rojo. Backup goalkeeper Sergio Romero is suspended while Marcus Rashford returns from suspension.
West Ham forward Marko Arnautovic could return from the knee injury which kept him out of action last weekend. Midfielder Carlos Sanchez picked up a little knock in the 8-0 League Cup trouncing of Macclesfield Town and faces a late fitness test.
Javier Chicharito Hernandez is unlikely to be fully fit enough to face his former team tomorrow despite recovering from a glandular fever.
United Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Kick-off: 1230 pm (BST), Saturday Sept 29
Odds via Bet365: United 17/20 Draw 13/5 West Ham United 3/1
Prediction: United 1, West Ham United 1
As always, feel free to post your own United and/or West Ham starting XI predictions, as well as your best guess as to what the final score will be.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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