Manchester United’s clash with West Ham will definitely decide the faith of both clubs, considering Manchester United’s Champions league ambition coupled with West Ham’s fight for Premier league safety.
Both teams will face each other on Wednesday evening in a game which could be tagged “a match of consequence”. At this point, it’s obvious that their are no underdogs among Premier league teams, if Watford could put an end to Liverpool’s unbeaten run of over 40 games, that would have passed a sound message across to all the Premier league top teams on what to expect against smaller clubs.
Manchester United (5th) are currently on 62 points alongside Leicester who are in fourth position on the league table. Which means they are behind Leicester City based on goal difference and as well proves that their Champions league qualification hope are in their hands.
Leicester, who are in fourth position fell mightily in hands of Tottenham on Sunday during their matchweek 37 encounter, and has left the door open for Manchester United to leapfrog the Foxes into fourth position.
But can they do it against the Hammers?
Looking at the quality and experience of West Ham’s manager David Moyes, winning against his former employer ‘the Red Devils’ will look to be a game on a revenge mission and it tends to be enough motivation for David Moyes to make sure the Red Devils are brought down today.
With Manchester United recent lackluster display and loss to Chelsea during their FA Cup Semifinal clash on Sunday evening, they will need to come up with a better performance against the Hammers, if they are to keep their Champions league hope alive.
West Ham have already got the better of Manchester United during their previous league encounter at London Stadium, with Yarmolenko and Cresswell scoring the two goals which spoilt United’s good record early in the season.
With that in mind, the Hammers had also proved that they are a team who can cause an upset against the big boys, considering their back-to-back league win against Chelsea this season. Meaning, the Hammers can’t be tagged as a pushover neither would they accept defeat without putting up a fight.
West Ham have had good runs of games in their last five matches despite losing against Burnley but they’ve impressively won three matches consecutively and drawn against Newcastle.
In view of West Ham’s 16th league position, whereby needing just a point to secure their Premier league safety, the Hammers will as well need to be at their best on Wednesday evening, regardless of their inconsistent season performance.
The club’s eventual financial effect and implication will undoubtedly be placed upon the Hammers’ match outcome against United unless they will be lucky enough to get atleast a point in their last Premier league match against Aston Villa who are also battling to escape relegation whereby putting their hope on West Ham’s loss in order to capitalise on it by winning their last two matches.
Mathematically, West Ham are not yet assured of their safety, while realistically, they can be assured of their safety.
With the right team spirit, discipline and confidence, West Ham United might just dent United’s hope of Champions league qualification unremorsefully.
