Manchester United will take on West Ham at the London Stadium in the early kick-off today.
United drew 0-0 with Liverpool at Anfield last weekend and although the performance wasn’t pretty, supporters were delighted with the points being shared after fearing another heavy scoreline before the match.
The challenge for the players is to build on that spirited display against West Ham this weekend and David Moyes’ side played in the Carabao Cup in midweek, which means they’ve had fewer days of rest.
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Regarding the team news, Bruno Fernandes will be available for selection after serving a one-match suspension, but Diogo Dalot is suspended having been sent off late on against Liverpool. Ten Hag confirmed in his pre-match press conference that some players had suffered from illness this week and provided injury updates on some key players.
So here’s how our writers think United should line up…
Samuel Luckhurst
Aaron Wan-Bissaka for Dalot is an enforced change but the back four should otherwise remain the same after a nigh-on flawless performance at Anfield.
West Ham have fine midfielders but Sofyan Amrabat cannot be regarded as indispensable and United have to prioritise the attack as they look to end a 291-minute goal drought. Fernandes has to come in, with Scott McTominay dropping back.
Alejandro Garnacho has been overplayed but has at least had a six-day breather. Marcus Rashford looked reasonably sharp in his cameo at Liverpool and is worth a go at the expense of Antony.
Rich Fay
United head into the match as the freshest of the two sides and there should be an onus on them to attack from the off. Wan-Bissaka comes in for Dalot, but the rest of the defence is unchanged from Anfield.
It is a case of Amrabat or Mainoo in midfield and the teenager deserves another chance to test himself on a senior stage. Fernandes has to start after his suspension and McTominay remains in form.
Rashford has to come back into the line-up, and Garnacho might need to be the one who misses out to accommodate him. Antony needs a big performance and would bring better balance to the forward line.
Steven Railston
There will be no excuse not to take the game to West Ham this afternoon as they played in midweek and United did not.
The only change in defence should be Wan-Bissaka coming in for the suspended Dalot because Evans should be capable of starting again with a week of rest under his belt.
Mainoo provides composure in midfield and he must start. Rashford should also return to the starting team because Antony has regressed again, despite showing encouraging signs in the last few weeks.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
