West Ham United welcome Manchester United to the London Stadium this Sunday, searching for three points to ease the pressure on manager Julen Lopetegui following his poor start to the season.
This match could define the trajectory of Lopetegui’s tenure as the Hammers have struggled to find their footing under his leadership.
The 58-year-old has only managed two wins from eight Premier League games (L4, D2) and is under fire to turn the tide after a summer transfer window that saw the Irons shell out over £100 million on new signings.
The club’s fans and board expect more from the experienced manager, and a positive result against a struggling Man United side is imperative to ease the tension.
Man United are there for the taking. The Premier League giants sit just three points and three places above the Hammers in 12th. They have only two wins from their previous seven games.
Erik ten Hag’s side continue to look disjointed, and this is a glorious chance for the Hammers to claim a morale-boosting scalp against the Reds.
West Ham also have an excellent recent home record against Man United, winning the last two meetings in east London. A repeat performance would boost the league position and restore much-needed confidence to a team needing a spark.
Three areas for West Ham to exploit
Firstly, Man United’s porous midfield can be outrun. The Red Devils are famously soft through the centre, and the addition of Manuel Ugarte has done nothing to plug that gaping hole.
Man United are expected to field a trio of Bruno Fernandes, Christian Eriksen, and Ugarte. While it looks excellent on paper, the Hammers must believe they can overrun this incohesive bunch.
Also, Man United are notoriously susceptible to counter-attacks, and Loptegui needs to set up his side to take advantage of fast breaks.
Their haphazard organisation does not allow them to defend transitions well, and Crysencio Summerville and Jarrod Bowen need to exploit the gaps between their midfield and defence.
Lastly, whether Diogo Dalot plays as a left or right-back, West Ham must target him. The Portuguese defender blows hot and cold and can be caught flat-footed when bamboozled by third-man runs. Bowen and co need to overwhelm him, and he will likely give up a chance or two.