It’s Manchester United against West Ham this weekend in a game both our sets of fans here in the Transfer Tavern know they need to win, for differing reasons.
United go into the game on the back of a frustrating home draw against Arsenal last time out. The Red Devils were the better side when the two met at Old Trafford but could not put the game to bed when 1-0 up and duly paid the price as the Gunners equalised in the dying embers thanks to the French striker Olivier Giroud.
West Ham, meanwhile, also lost a result late on in spectacular fashion as a 2-1 win turned into a 3-2 loss against Tottenham to pile on the pressure at White Hart Lane.
Both teams, then, cannot afford a slip up here and our landlord reckons if Jose Mourinho gets complacent and plays this team the Hammers could take an unlikely victory…
GK David de Gea
The best in the league. Will always play.
RB Antonio Valencia
Valencia is suspect at right-back at times anyway but he’ll still play.
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Jones will always have a mistake in him and will have to be on his game here.
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Rojo is similar to Jones and West Ham will try to get at him.
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Darmian was lucky to not get sent off against Arsenal and will have to improve sharpish, could get caught out.
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Fellaini has been out of the side recently and that is how it needs to stay, though Mourinho has had a tendency to play the Belgian when not at all required.
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RAM Marcus Rashford
Rashford has earned his place in the side and should start again against the Hammers, though things have stalled for England’s brightest hope of late.
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United have improved with him on the bench and that’s how it should stay, despite his strong performance in the Europa League recently.
Off the pace in the Premier League.
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Martial needs to improve this season because he’s been nowhere near last year’s form, which surely will be a concern for Mourinho and his bacroom staff.
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Ibrahimovic should be back from his ban and needs to start hitting the goal trail again.
Agree United fans? Let us know below…
