Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United start their Premier League Campaign by hosting West Ham United at Old Trafford.
They will be hoping for an improvement on last season’s sixth place this time round. They have spent big in order to do so, having shelled out a mega £137million on Lindelof, Matic and Lukaku who come in to an already star- studded side.
They will be facing Slaven Bilic’s West Ham who has brought in some quality as well this summer. With Hart, Zabeleta, Arnautovic, Haksabanovic and Ex United Hernandez who will all add real quality to the squad in an aim to push the hammers up the table towards the European spots and look to recreate their memorable 2015/16 season rather then last years disappointment.
Manchester United will still be without Young, Shaw and Rojo as they are all still recovering from long-term injuries. United will be fielding a similar team to the one that took part in the Super Cup against Real Madrid in which they just lost out 2-1 to the Champions League holders.
West Ham has some injury concerns of their own with Lanzini, Carroll, Sakho, Antonio, Kouyate and new man Hernandez all potentially missing out of the team’s opener. This means West Ham could be short going forward with youngster Toni Martinez as their only fully fit recognised striker. This could seriously weaken their chances to get a result given the strength and depth of Manchester United’s starting XI.
United will be also be hoping Lukaku continues his scoring form against West Ham having scored nine in 11 games against the Hammers during his time at West Brom and Everton. The stats very much favour the home side in this pairing, with Manchester United winning 24 meetings to West Ham’s five since the inception of the Premier League.
Prediction: Manchester United 3-1 West Ham United
Written by Henry Tomlinson.
