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… meanwhile on the subject of Leny Yoro, who was clearly unhappy after being hooked against Palace on Sunday, Amorim says: “I know on the TV he appeared really disappointed with his performance … I need to be normal all the time … I spoke [to him] about the message … all the trouble that is to see a Manchester United player so disappointed on the bench … it was just a tactical issue … a tactical option, just that.”
Ruben Amorim talks to Sky Sports. “We showed last game that we can play the same way but with a different intensity … last game at home we played a low pace … today we should be better … we need to be careful with set pieces … and transitions … we want to be the dominant team … need to be focused in every detail.”
He also reports that the injury to Matthijs de Ligt is a “small thing” and he expects him back for Manchester United’s next game at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday night. Ayden Heaven will play in De Ligt’s usual central position tonight: “I think he has big character and is ready to play in that position, he will suit it really well.”
The three points on offer tonight are precious for both teams. Should Manchester United claim them, they’ll go level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea. (If they want actual fourth place, they’ll need to win by nine goals this evening.) As for West Ham, they were bumped into the relegation places last night due to Leeds United’s victory over Chelsea. They need to win by a two-goal margin tonight if they’re to leapfrog Leeds back out of the dropzone.
Manchester United make three changes to the starting XI named for the 2-1 win at Crystal Palace. Matheus Cunha returns from injury, stepping up along with Noussair Mazraoui and Ayden Heaven. Leny Yoro and Mason Mount drop to the bench, while Matthijs de Ligt misses out altogether.
West Ham United make just one change from the team sent out for the 2-0 home defeat to Liverpool, and it’s enforced. Lucas Paquetá having talked himself into a suspension, Tomáš Souček comes in to take his place in midfield.
The teams
Manchester United: Lammens, Dalot, Heaven, Shaw, Diallo, Casemiro, Fernandes, Mazraoui, Mbeumo, Cunha, Zirkzee.
Subs: Bayindir, Martinez, Mount, Malacia, Dorgu, Yoro, Ugarte, Mainoo, Lacey.
West Ham United: Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Todibo, Diouf, Magassa, Potts, Bowen, Soucek, Fernandes, Wilson.
Subs: Hermansen, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Rodriguez, Irving, Earthy, Marshall, Mayers, Kante.
Referee: Andrew Kitchen
VAR: Peter Bankes
Preamble
West Ham United have beaten Manchester United in four of their last five Premier League meetings. Now then, three of those victories were at the London Stadium. But the most recent one was at Old Trafford in May, when the Hammers completed the double over the Red Devils for the first time since 2007, and there is no way the hosts will be going into this fixture counting their chickens. However while West Ham arrive in the north after a supine surrender to Liverpool at the weekend, Manchester United are coming off the back of a turnaround boost at Crystal Palace. So while the recent record between the two teams favours Nuno Espírito Santo’s men, the immediate form is with Ruben Amorim’s side. Balanced rather deliciously, then. Kick-off is at 8pm GMT. It’s on!
