And there we have it, the match report from Jamie Jackson on an uplifting sort of afternoon at Old Trafford as United get three goals, three points, a clean sheet and a sense of optimism rarely felt around the club this season.
That’s me signing off. Cheers for tuning in and hopefully I’ll catch you all soon. Bye!
Please allow me to point you in the direction of our next MBM offering. And it’s a biggie.
This is very much the photograph of the day:
The class of 24.
— Dawesy (@JagoDawes) February 4, 2024
A professional and mature performance 🔴⚫️⚪️#mufc #MUFC_FAMILY @ManUtd #GlazersOut pic.twitter.com/14qKAFSAIg
“There was a lot of talk about us not scoring many goals, but I’m 21 and he’s 19,” says Højlund. “We’re improving.”
Garnacho gives us an almighty grin as he’s presented with the Player of the Match award.
“It’s always special to play on your birthday and today we got a very good win,” says Rasmus Højlund, who says his friends asked him to do a guitar celebration.
“The celebration is the celebration,” says Garnacho on his West Ham-inspired effort after his first goal.
Manchester United are now unbeaten in five games in 2024. They’ve strung together three wins in which they’ve scored 11 goals. Is Ten Hag turning a corner with his team?
This win moves them up to sixth, leapfrogging West Ham, and they’re actually only eight points off second spot.
FT: Manchester United 3-0 West Ham
That’s the game and it’s another confidence-boosting win for Erik ten Hag’s team!
United got the lead fairly on through Rasmus Højlund, but it wasn’t until Alejandro Garnacho’s first of the afternoon on 49 minutes that the hosts really started to strut their stuff. West Ham will rue a series of missed chances in the first hour of the game, before they were blown away by Garnacho et al later on. The Argentine’s second capped a classic United counterattack.
90 mins + 5: Kudus drags one wide in a rare foray forward for the away side in these latter stages. West Ham have been poor in this second half, after a promising first half display.
Garnacho looks keen to grab a hat-trick, but it isn’t quite happening for him.
90 mins + 3: The life has pretty much been sapped out of the visiting players now; it’s just a case of whether United want to try and score four. Antony has been heavily involved since coming on.
McTominay thunders one just wide after a good attacking sequence.
Updated
Into added time. Just the six more minutes for West Ham to endure.
United have never won a game by four or more goals under Erik ten Hag. Could they do it here?
*Puts on Gary Neville voice* This is Manchester United.
ANOTHER ONE!
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 4, 2024
Alejandro Garnacho gets a second, Manchester United cruising 🔴✨ pic.twitter.com/MUX6cU4xeA
88 mins: Lindelof replaces Shaw, while Antony comes on for Hojlund for United.
Luke Shaw has been super-solid since coming back from injury. He’s so important to this side.
86 mins: Kalvin Phillips has had a shocking start to his West Ham career, he really has. But this is vintage United now; they’re really enjoying themselves while being afforded plenty of space on the counter.
GOAL! Manchester United 3-0 West Ham (Garnacho, 84)
Garnacho at the double! A slick counterattack from United.
Hojlund and McTominay combined to steal the ball off Phillips in midfield and the Scot then feeds it right for Garnacho to slide into the corner. Game, set and match.
Updated
83 mins: It almost drops out of the sky for Fernandes to make it 3-0. United kept it alive thanks to a series of headers but the door was just about closed on the Portuguese playmaker.
82 mins: There is still time for West Ham but United are creating chances on the counter, with Garnacho’s searching cross looking for Rashford this time and Zouma conceding a corner.
80 mins: Huge ironic cheers as Phillips picks it up on the edge of the box and fires hopelessly over the bar. He never looked in control of that.
This is that Garnacho goal, by the way, which looks to be proving decisive.
ALEJANDRO GARNACHO!
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 4, 2024
Perfect start to the second half for Manchester United 🔴 pic.twitter.com/RnOdbLQILA
78 mins: Onana flaps at a Ward-Prowse corner and then it finds its way back into the box and Zouma tries to sweep it goalwards, but it’s wide.
Rashford took a bash to the chest in the melee, there, but should be fine.
75 mins: It pass, pass, pass from West Ham now, camped out in the United half looking for something to set us up a grandstand finish.
73 mins: Ben Johnson will go to right-back now as Coufal was taken off. Phillips has replaced Soucek to give a more dynamic feel to the West Ham engine room.
72 mins: Varane is straight in at the deep end as United are forced to defend a couple of Ward-Prowse dead balls … and the defending is good this time. Varane, then Maguire and then Shaw all head away.
Phillips and Cornet are coming on for the Hammers, here, with boos for the Manchester City loanee.
71 mins: I spoke too soon on Martinez. He’s going off, down the tunnel to get some treatment. Varane comes on.
69 mins: That’s a superb piece of defending from Dalot to deny Bowen. A good ball from Alvarez was missed by Maguire but the Portuguese slid in to block heroically. Cue huge cheers from the home fans.
68 mins: There looked to be serious concern for Martinez from his United teammates; it was a jarring of the knee in a tangle with Soucek. But he got up fairly quickly and will continue.
66 mins: The visitors are now enjoying plenty of possession, albeit the United defence is standing pretty firm.
Martinez might have an issue here, he’s clutching his knee after a challenge in the corner.
64 mins: The first United substitution of the day sees Mainoo replaced by Scott McTominay. Why of course.
63 mins: Poor decision-making from Garnacho, this time opting not to shoot and trying to play in Rashford. The left-footed strike was on for him as he cut inside from that right flank.
62 mins: West Ham haven’t won a game in 2024 and Man United haven’t lost one. Yet despite that and the 2-0 scoreline, this still doesn’t feel like a safe three points. Far from it.
60 mins: How long before Moyes makes a change here? The Hammers may be in need of more forward presence to support Bowen. They’ve got Cornet and and Ings to call upon.
58 mins: Garnacho steams down the left to collect a wonderful long pass from Casemiro. He cuts back to Fernandes whose shot is deflected and then Rashford gets it all wrong and sends the ball high into the Stretford End.
57 mins: Shaw does well to see out Kudus, but West Ham have responded quite well in the past few minutes. Don’t rule them out completely.
55 mins: Dalot then takes aim from 25 yards after a short corner and he’s not a million miles away from target. That second goal just seems to have given Ten Hag’s team more confidence.
… as I say that, West Ham break and Alvarez shoots straight at Onana.
54 mins: Ooft, Mainoo with a lovely touch to set Garnacho off and running, who in turn tries to play in Dalot. Better football from United.
Was Alejandro Garnacho’s celebration a little dig at Kudus and West Ham?
We see you Garnacho 👀 pic.twitter.com/sJkSzdglh0
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) February 4, 2024
52 mins: The momentum is with the home side now and Rashford plays a lovely give-and-go with Shaw, then arrows a shot just beyond the far post as he drifted in from the left.
51 mins: That Emerson miss … West Ham are going to rue that unless than can hit back in this game. We know United haven’t been brilliant at protecting 2-0 leads this season.
Not that 2-0 tells the story of this game whatsoever.
GOAL! Manchester United 2-0 West Ham (Garnacho, 49)
Out of nothing, United have a second and it’s Garnacho!
It’s worked quite easily to the right and the youngster cuts in on his left foot and his shot takes a wicked and decisive deflection off Aguerd and goes in.
Updated
48 mins: There’s been little discernible increase in the tempo of United’s play since the resumption, which was the one thing that irked the home crowd earlier on.
Emerson is gifted the ball by a Maguire mistake but takes his time and skies his effort. Wow, that was gilt-edged.
46 mins: Lisandro Martinez was United’s best player in the first half and he starts the second with a smart piece of defending that gets his side going forward.
Second half: Yep, it’s Fabianski for Areola, as we get back under way.
Presumably that’s due to an injury.
The good news for Ten Hag and United is that they lead, despite not playing well. If they can replicate their first half performance from the Wolves game in midweek (probably United’s best 45-minutes of the campaign), they’ll have enough to win this.
It looks like West Ham are going to change their goalkeeper at half-time, as Lukasz Fabianski warms up.
Oh dear. I’ve started a debate here. Mac Millings says:
Regarding your 36th-minute question (‘How many of these West Ham players would get in the current United XI?’), since West Ham are clearly superior, might the answer be ‘All of them’?
Grab yourself a half-time brew and enjoy the only goal of this game so far, via Rasmus.
Rasmus Højlund scores on his birthday! 🔥🎂 pic.twitter.com/AEWXd3OD8l
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 4, 2024
I asked a question on 36 minutes about how many West Ham players would get into the current Manchester United XI and Joe Pearson attempts an answer on email:
Given Ten Hag’s eccentric squad selections, I’d say there’s no way to tell. Zouma? Mavropanos? Ings? Yes, definitely Ings!
I’m not having Danny Ings in my combined lineup, Joe, but maybe that’s just me. Here’s a rough estimation: Onana, Dalot, Zouma, Martinez, Shaw, JWP, Casemiro, Kudus, Fernandes, Bowen, Rashford
Updated
HT: Manchester United 1-0 West Ham
The hosts do at least finish the half by creating a chance for Højlund, who drills into the side netting as the angle from the left was tightening. United have the lead through the Dane, but they’ve not dominated the game by any stretch of the imagination.
West Ham have carved out numerous chances and will feel they ought to be on the scoreboard here. André Onana has made a couple of smart saves to keep it at 1-0.
45 mins: We’re now into one minute of added time.
The half-time whistle would very much suit United. Ten Hag might want to fire a few rockets up his players in the dressing room.
43 mins: It’s all West Ham at the end of this first half. Ward-Prowse is making them tick, while Kudus has been excellent. JWP fires one well wide from distance.
Updated
41 mins: Another West Ham corner brings about a header from Alvarez that is flashed across the face of goal. It was just behind Kudus who was lingering, waiting to turn one in.
40 mins: The United fans are getting a bit restless with their team’s slow tempo in possession, while Casemiro and Fernandes exchange a few words in frustration with each other.
The home side lead but they can play a lot better than this. West Ham continue to threaten an equaliser.
38 mins: The game’s first yellow card goes to Soucek for a ridiculously cynical trip on Rashford as United were counterattacking.
36 mins: How many of these West Ham players would get in the current United XI?
Kudus, Ward-Prowse, maybe Bowen? Areola?
35 mins: Casemiro over-commits with a sliding tackle and it allows West Ham to fling players forward … Martinez doesn’t err with his challenge in the box, though. Good from the Argentinian.
33 mins: For once, West Ham get their final ball wrong – Kudus’ cross was overhit – but United are struggling to find their flow in midfield.
31 mins: Onana saves again, this time from Kudus who peels away from Diogo Dalot at the back post to meet Bowen’s cross with a header that the United keeper telegraphed.
30 mins: United are getting undone in the middle far too often for their liking, but a thumping Martinez tackle gets them out of trouble on this occasion, before Mainoo progresses it forward.
The 18-year-old is doing a lot of the important dirty work at the moment.
Updated
28 mins: West Ham are certainly having their fair share of shots. Another Johnson effort, this time from distance, is beaten away by Onana.
This is very open.
Updated
26 mins: Luke Shaw gives away a cheap free-kick and West Ham are pushing for an equaliser straight away. Martinez blocks Johnson’s shot away.
25 mins: Rasmus Højlund really has found his feet in terms of Premier League goalscoring, hasn’t it?
Not sure about that celebration mind – an awkward hop is the best way I can describe it.
GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 West Ham (Højlund, 23)
Delighftul feet from Højlund!
It’s well won by Casemiro in midfield after a loose West Ham header and then the Dane picks it up, drives and works it wonderfully onto his right foot to hammer it home.
Updated
22 mins: Chelsea have been pegged back to 1-1 after leading Wolves 1-0, while Bournemouth are ahead against Nottingham Forest by a goal.
21 mins: After a nervy wait among the United fans, Ward-Prowse powers it straight into the wall, but it’s still West Ham who are keeping the pressure on at the moment. Kudus is a livewire.
19 mins: United are furious as Martinez is penalised for diving in on Kudus on the edge of the box … he appeared to win the ball but went through the player to do so. JWP territory, this.
18 mins: West Ham go Route One and Johnson nearly muscles in behind the United defence. He’s usually a full-back but he’s often been his side’s most advanced player in this game.
Soucek’s shot is deflected wide.
16 mins: Fernandes lines up a lovely dipping shot that was destined for the corner before Areola palmed it away.
Another United corner is worked short but Dalot’s shot is a lot less dangerous and the Hammers’ keeper gathers again.
15 mins: United appeal for an Emerson handball in the box and their fans are subsequently mocked by the West Ham faithful. It then bounces back out but Rashford tries to slalom through and Zouma bails it out for a corner.
13 mins: Zouma makes a nuisance of himself in the United box as Ward-Prowse takes another set-piece but the hosts can clear, before Garnacho is on the receiving end of a hefty Soucek challenge.
11 mins: A huge save from Onana following a deflection in the United box!
Brilliant reactions from the United goalkeeper.
10 mins: West Ham corner. They got it forward rather easily tne, with Johnson ghosting into space out wide and hitting it off Casemiro.
9 mins: Garnacho gets into a half space inside the West Ham box, but he’s soon shut out. United then want a free-kick for a shove on Mainoo but there’s nothing doing.
7 mins: The Old Trafford crowd noise has died down a bit and it’s all rather lukewarm at the moment, United enjoying the bulk of possession but doing little with it.
5 mins: “Champions of Europe, we know what we are,” sing the West Ham fans.
Hmm, really not sure about that chant, sorry lads.
3 mins: We wondered whether it would be a back five from the Hammers and it seems Ben Johnson is playing as a genuine right-winger rather than as a wing-back.
The visitors are not afraid to employ a high press here.
2 mins: The home side begin positively, looking to move the ball quickly, with Rashford heavily marshaled by West Ham whenever he gets it on the United left.
KICK OFF
Time for the talking to stop. We’re under way.
Right, we’re almost ready to rock and roll at Old Trafford. Where’s yer money? Will Manchester United produce a proper performance, or will they provide the usual thrills and spills? And can West Ham upset the applecart once more?
As one Manchester United team wrap up victory in the WSL, can their male counterparts do the same?
"He can make impact today from the bench hopefully"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 4, 2024
David Moyes shares his thoughts ahead of the game at Old Trafford 💭⚒️ pic.twitter.com/EhbtnAuKkp
What of West Ham, then? Remarkably, they’ve lost just once in the Premier League since 4 November (although that was a 5-0 defeat to Fulham) yet they’ve failed to win their past five games in all competitions since back-to-back 2-0 victories over Man United and Arsenal. Hence there is a degree of pressure on David Moyes, which there always seems to be. The Hammers are looking to do the double over United for the first time in 17 seasons.
Can United finish fourth or fifth this season and qualify for the Champions League? These two think so.
"I still believe they can get fifth"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 4, 2024
Gary Neville and Roy Keane believe Manchester United can have a positive end to the season 💪 pic.twitter.com/LPhu4kOgfH
Manchester United pay tribute to the victims of the Munich air disaster this afternoon, with the 66th anniversary of the crash coming up on Tuesday. Fans gathered around the memorial plaque before kick-off, while 48 relatives of players who died in the accident have been invited by the club to attend today’s game.
Ten Hag has confirmed the decision to swap Varane for Maguire in the United defence today is tactical.
He told MUTV: “First of all, H (Maguire) was doing very well but picked up an injury, Raphaël is also doing very well, but a third game in. We didn’t want to change too much, it’s up to Harry to show his contribution, but we’re confident that he will.”
Some pre-match reading for you here, as Jamie Jackson attemps to answer the question on everyone’s lips around Old Trafford:
It’s just the one change for Manchester United from their dramatic 4-3 victory at Wolves, with Harry Maguire slotting into the defence in place of Raphaël Varane. You’d say the England man was suited to this type of game, with West Ham strong from set-pieces. United are able to welcome back Sofyan Amrabat from AFCON duty – although Kobbie Mainoo’s form means the Moroccan is on the bench.
Coufal’s return means it’s a change of shape for West Ham, who are playing five at the back, with Phillips dropping out of the midfield to the bench. Aguerd comes in for Mavrapanos.
Both clubs, however, need to take a long look at themselves and stop publishing their teams on social media in squad number order. It’s hideous.
United's starting XI: confirmed ✅
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 4, 2024
🔄 One change for the Reds as @HarryMaguire93 replaces @RaphaelVarane.#MUFC || #MUNWHU
Your team to take on Manchester United ⚒️ pic.twitter.com/dqEEyuOiBW
— West Ham United (@WestHam) February 4, 2024
Team news
Manchester United: Onana, Dalot, Maguire, Martínez, Shaw, Mainoo, Casemiro, Fernandes, Garnacho, Rashford, Højlund
Subs: Bayindir, Varane, Lindelöf, Amrabat, McTominay, Eriksen, Amad, Antony, Forson
West Ham: Areola, Johnson, Coufal, Aguerd, Zouma, Emerson, Ward-Prowse, Álvarez, Soucek, Kudus, Bowen
Subs: Fabianski, Cresswell, Ogbonna, Mavrapanos, Phillips, Scarles, Cornet, Ings Mubama
Updated
Preamble
Hey Sunday gang. Welcome to another barnstorming day in the Premier League. Well, we hope it will be anyway, after yesterday’s absolute goal glut: 26 goals scored in just five games represented a veritable feast and it’s now the turn of Manchester United and West Ham to try and provide a similar offering.
Erik ten Hag’s team are on the brink of the unthinkable; three points would mean they’d go five games unbeaten for the first time this season and string together three back-to-back wins for just the second time, last doing so in October with unconvincing triumphs over Brentford (Scott McTominay’s added time brace), Sheffield United (Diogo Dalot thunderbolt to beat a poor team 2-1) and Copenhagen (last gasp penalty save in a 1-0).
How West Ham would love to slam the brakes on United’s momentum, as they did just before Christmas with a hard-fought 2-0 victory at the London Stadium. Nayef Aguerd could return for them after AFCON duty, Vladimir Coufal is back from suspension while on-loan Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips could feature again.
Kick-off is at 2pm GMT. And it’s LIVE, etc etc.
