MY ACCOUNT
– Manchester United have been imperious at home, beating some of Europe’s best
– West Ham may be buoyed by a home win but remain abject on the road
– Recommended bet: Manchester United to win by a two-goal margin
After correctly predicting Manchester United to get the better of Barcelona in the Europa League, Dan Sait assesses the best bet for the Red Devils’ fifth-round FA Cup clash with West Ham.
Manchester United and West Ham contest this FA Cup fifth-round clash in high spirits thanks to a weekend that brought Carabao Cup glory for the Red Devils and a much-needed Premier League victory for the Hammers.
Though defeats of Newcastle and Nottingham Forest might not seem particularly seismic for clubs of the stature of Manchester United and West Ham, both successes will have felt hugely significant to managers Erik ten Hag and David Moyes.
Moyes has been under serious pressure in the West Ham dugout, fretting at a lack of cutting edge that had seen his side slip into the bottom three.
So to see the floodgates open in a 4-0 thrashing of Forest will have been a huge relief, with West Ham netting more than three goals in a game for the first time this season to move them out of the bottom three and give hope for a far brighter second half of the campaign.
And Ten Hag will have felt similar relief at Wembley when claiming the Carabao Cup.
It may not be the most sought-after piece of silverware but the Dutchman has made his first serious statement at the club in ending United’s six-year trophy drought at the very first opportunity.
Ten Hag will doubtless be hungry for more in the league, Europe and the FA Cup.
Team news
Manchester United’s injury issues are starting to clear up, with midfielders Christian Eriksen and Donny van de Beek the only long-term injury absentees and striker Anthony Martial expected back from a hip problem within the next week or two.
West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski and right-back Vladimir Coufal were both forced off against Nottingham Forest last weekend with eye and heel injuries respectively and are unlikely to start at Old Trafford.
Central defender Kurt Zouma and attacker Maxwel Cornet both have an outside chance of returning from their respective calf and thigh injuries but January signing Danny Ings is cup tied after playing for Aston Villa in the third round.
The stats
Manchester United have won six of their last seven meetings with West Ham, though the only West Ham success in that run came in cup competition – last season’s 1-0 victory at Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup third round.
However, West Ham’s Premier League away record this season does not offer much encouragement for another cup upset, with Moyes’ men having failed to win any of their last 10 league away games, losing seven.
The Hammers’ hopes are further undermined by United’s excellent home record in 2022-23.
Ten Hag’s men are unbeaten in 18 at Old Trafford, winning 16 – including defeats of Barcelona and Manchester City – and have beaten Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham on home soil this term.
Prediction
West Ham’s impressive defeat of Nottingham Forest last weekend could prove a turning point in their season as they have been playing better than results suggest but have lacked confidence in front of goal.
A four-goal haul could help them relax and release the shackles to power on in both the Premier League and in Europe.
However, harnessing that positivity to land a shock Old Trafford success seems too big an ask for the Hammers as United are starting to look the real deal under Ten Hag.
The Red Devils have seen off some of the best teams in Europe on home soil this term, scoring at least twice in victories over Barcelona, Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham to make over 1.5 Manchester United goals a safe-looking addition to Bet Builder selections.
But the best bet might be to go for a comfortable home win as the hosts are rightfully strong favourites for this match and Ten Hag will be keen to kill the tie off and rest players once his team has a safe lead to defend.
Back Manchester United to win by a two-goal margin, available at 16/5 with LiveScore Bet.
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