Premier League: Man United to make experience tell against West Ham
Robin Bairner
20 January 2022
Manchester United welcome West Ham and former manager David Moyes back to Old Trafford on Saturday in a fixture that promises to be pivotal in the race for the top four.
The form of United remains distinctly patchy but they did find hitherto undiscovered attacking efficiency against Brentford in midweek to record a 3-1 victory, though that was a flattering outcome in a match that might have gone the other way.
Nevertheless, they are priced at 1.9 to overcome West Ham and jump at least temporarily into the top four. The draw is on offer at 3.85 and an away win is priced at 4.3.
Reds rediscovering their devil?
Manchester United’s home record historically against West Ham is a formidable one. Since the inception of the Premier League, this is a fixture that has been played 25 times, with the Red Devils winning 20. They are undefeated since 2007, which is a run of 13 matches.
Additionally, the Old Trafford side won the previous league meeting between the clubs this season 2-1 in September, with Jesse Lingard, a hero on loan at the London club in the latter part of the 2020-21 season, snatching an 89th-minute winner.
This, though, is a Manchester United side that remains difficult to predict. They have not won back-to-back games since overcoming Arsenal and Crystal Palace in early December. Even during their midweek success at Brentford, they posted a lower xG than their hosts.
West Ham manager David Moyes guided his side to victory in a League Cup tie at Old Trafford earlier this season
Hammers aiming for history
West Ham, meanwhile, are enjoying a memorable season, which already includes a 1-0 win over United at Old Trafford in the League Cup. Manuel Lanzini got the only goal on that occasion, which was played between two heavily rotated sides.
The Hammers now have the opportunity to become just the fourth team in history to beat Manchester United twice in the same season at Old Trafford. Aston Villa (1919-20), Tottenham (1989-90) and Chelsea (2004-05) are the only clubs to have previously achieved this feat.
The form of Moyes’ men, too, had been good before they were stopped in their tracks by Leeds last weekend in a thrilling 3-2 loss.
Priced at 7.8 to finish in the top four this season, defeat on Saturday would see these odds lengthen significantly.
Big-game experience to tell
History points to a Manchester United victory while there is also a sense that they have some momentum building after winning in midweek. The big-game experience in the squad, too, should help the home side in what is an important fixture, making their price an attractive one.
Goals, too, should be on the cards. Three of United’s last five games have produced at least three strikes, with the home club looking gradually more expansive under Ralf Rangnick, while each of West Ham’s last four Premier League matches have produced at least five goals.
This suggests that a price of 1.73 on Over 2.5 goals is a good one.
Recommended bets:
Robin Bairner
20 January 2022
