In the realm of football punditry, the seasoned Paul Merson from Sky Sports has once again graced us with his insights, this time revolving around the much-anticipated clash between Manchester United and West Ham at the iconic Old Trafford. As the Red Devils persist in their quest for a coveted top-four finish in the Premier League this season, the stakes are undeniably high.
Manchester United’s recent triumph over Wolves, a thrilling 4-3 spectacle at the Molineux, has added fuel to their aspirations. Kobbie Mainoo etched his name in the annals of the match by delivering a sensational winner in injury time. This victory, coupled with the Red Devils’ current eighth position in the league table, places them 11 points adrift of the fourth-place occupant, Aston Villa, with a crucial game in hand.
West Ham, however, finds themselves in a relatively more favorable position in the league standings, perched ahead of Manchester United with 36 points after 22 Premier League encounters. Despite their advantageous position, David Moyes’ men have hit a rough patch, being winless in their last five matches across all competitions, including a recent 1-1 draw against Bournemouth at home.
Paul Merson, no stranger to making bold predictions, had previously declared that Manchester United’s top-four ambitions would have been in jeopardy had they faltered against Wolves. In a recent column for Sportskeeda, Merson, with an admitted sense of discomfort, predicted a 2-1 victory for Manchester United against West Ham, citing the unpredictable nature of both teams.
Despite Merson’s endorsement of a United triumph, he couldn’t help but issue a warning about the formidable duo of Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus from West Ham. Acknowledging the Hammers’ potential to exploit counter-attacks, he emphasized the unpredictability associated with both teams, drawing parallels with Manchester United’s rollercoaster performance against Newport County.
The specter of injuries also loomed over the United camp, particularly concerning Lisandro Martinez, who was seen receiving treatment after being subbed off in the Wolves clash. However, manager Erik ten Hag promptly dispelled any concerns, asserting that the decision was tactical, aimed at injecting fresh energy and a different skill set into the lineup.
In a pre-match press conference, Ten Hag clarified, “I took him off actually because I had to sub Rasmus Hojlund, he was dead with all that running. Then we needed an extra header, but for Licha, he has just had a long time out and we brought Harry Maguire on for Licha and also Omari Forson on for Rasmus Hojlund.”
