Manchester United seem to be taking shape under the instruction of Erik ten Hag and the Red Devils could move to within a point of the top four with a victory over West Ham at Old Trafford today. The Irons have lost three of their last four away assignments in the Premier League, though they have often proved awkward opponents for Man Utd and the Londoners will fancy their chances of upsetting the odds at The Theatre of Dreams.
As per the usual routine, we have a stats pack for today’s televised fixture below which is jam-packed with info on xG, corners, cards, shots, shots on target and more from the clubs’ Premier League campaigns. Our stats pack alongside the Stats Pack Guide should give you a better chance of beating the bookies in the bet builder markets today.
starting Lineups
Raphael Varane was injured against Chelsea last weekend and it looks as though the French defender won’t play for United again until after the World Cup. Anthony Martial is back in training, though he isn’t available for this one.
Harry Maguire partners Lisandro Martinez at centre-half while Anthony Elanga starts in place of Antony.
Lucas Paqueta and Maxwel Cornet are confirmed absentees for West Ham while Craig Dawson is rated as “touch-and-go” by boss David Moyes
Jarrod Bowen faces a late fitness test on an ankle complaint. If the winger isn’t fit, Coufal or Fornals could start in his place.
Team Stats
Manchester United’s overall stats for the Premier League campaign still have an “even-steven” look about them across most metrics, though performances have started to improve in a number of departments in recent weeks.
In their last three league fixtures combined – all of which were tough – United clocked 56 attempts to their opponents’ 24 (vs Newcastle, Tottenham & Chelsea). United still rank joint-top of the division for cards collected so far, however (32).
Like their hosts, West Ham have struggled to put the ball in the net at times this season and the Irons’ 0.92 goals per 90 minutes haul places them near the foot of the table for that metric.
Defensively, David Moyes’ backline has been impressively mean however, and only four clubs have conceded fewer shots per 90 this term. Only Newcastle, Arsenal and Man City have shipped fewer goals than West Ham (1.00 p/90).
Player Shots and Shots on Target
Cristiano Ronaldo returns today after his goal-scoring heroics on Thursday evening and Marcus Rashford (2.63 p/90) starts on the wing.
Rashford had three attempts against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last weekend, while Bruno Fernandes (2.09 p/90) and Antony (3.67) had two apiece.
West Ham clocked up 20 attempts in their last Premier League assignment against Bournemouth (3.75 shots p/90) and incredibly, Said Benrahma accounted for eight of them on his own. The winger’s peppering performance was unusual however, and has warped his overall stats for the campaign.
Gianluca Scamacca (3.17) seems to have made the centre-forward position his own, while Declan Rice could be worth considering as an option, even though he doesn’t feature on our list.
The Irons’ skipper has lodged at least two attempts in two of his last three league appearances and he seems to have been given licence to maraud forward a little more.
Player Goals and Assists
Marcus Rashford is United’s leading scorer in the league this season (three), though he hasn’t rattled the net in the top flight since his brace against Arsenal on September 4th.
The 24-year-old did manage to register against Sheriff in the Europa League on Thursday however, and Rashford was United’s match-winner when they last played West Ham at Old Trafford in January.
Casemiro plundered a dramatic equalizer at Chelsea last Sunday, but don’t expect that effort to kick off a prolonged purple patch for the midfielder.
Gianluca Scamacca, Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen are West Ham’s joint-leading scorers in the league with two goals each. Antonio is the only one from that trio to have scored on the road this term, however.
Declan Rice’s tally of two assists is the best at the club so far, though the England midfielder hasn’t set up a goal since September 3rd.
Manchester United Cards
United’s ranks are layered deep with excellent card candidates, though their cautions-king Scott McTominay is unlikely to start against West Ham today.
Casemiro has taken McTominay’s position in the XI and the ex-Real Madrid star, who has been committing 2.65 fouls per 90, is an option worth pricing today.
Luke Shaw picked up his second Premier League booking of the season at Chelsea last weekend and the 27-year-old is one of two fullbacks worth tracking today, alongside Diogo Dalot (four cards). Quick-tempered Argentinean Lisandro Martinez (three cards) completes the set of solid card options for United.
Flynn Downes is enjoying a breakout campaign at West Ham and he played as a number ten on his first Premier League start against Bournemouth last weekend. If Downes reprises that role today, he could have Casemiro to reckon with in midfield.
Gianluca Scamacca (fouled 1.11 times p/90) should relish engaging in physical confrontations with Lisandro Martinez, while Vladimir Coufal (fouled 0.92 times p/90) could be on the receiving end of Luke Shaw’s aggression if Jarrod Bowen doesn’t start.
Match-Ups to watch
Casemiro vs Flynn Downes
Luke Shaw vs Vladimir Coufal
Lisandro Martinez vs Gianluca Scamacca
West Ham Cards
West Ham will expect to have to defend for long periods at Old Trafford today and with a heavy defensive workload in the offing, Thilo Kehrer, Declan Rice and Aaron Cresswell are your likeliest card candidates today.
German centre-half Kehrer (three cards) rarely looks assured, while Aaron Cresswell (two cards) knows how to get cynical when circumstances require an ankle clip or shirt pull. For holding midfielder Declan Rice, bookings come with the territory and the 23-year-old should keep his tackle count high today.
Bruno Fernandes knows how to get under an opponent’s skin and the Portuguese schemer has been fouled more often than any of his teammates this term (1.36 p/90). Expect Declan Rice to get to grips with him today.
On the flank, Elanga will hope to bamboozle Aaron Cresswell with his trickery in place of Antony’s flair. Marcus Rashford will aim to use his pace to draw a lunge or two from Thilo Kehrer more centrally. Both duels have card potential this afternoon.
Match-Ups to watch
Thilo Kehrer vs Marcus Rashford
Declan Rice vs Bruno Fernandes
Aaron Cresswell vs Antony
