da jogodeouro： Manchester United play hosts to West Ham United at Old Trafford on Sunday looking to build on their big win in the Europa League on Thursday night.
da 888casino： The Red Devils beat Feyenoord 4-0 to boost their chances of reaching the knockout stages of the competition, but attention now turns back to the Premier League, where their form has been less impressive.
Jose Mourinho’s men are nine points behind his former club Chelsea at the summit and have drawn their last three home league matches – something they will look to change when the Hammers travel north this weekend.
Slaven Bilic’s side have endured a difficult start to the campaign themselves and the Irons were just one point before this weekend, following one point above the relegation zone after a dramatic 3-2 defeat against London rivals Tottenham last Saturday.
In what is sure to be an intriguing encounter, here is FootballFanCast’s United XI to beat West Ham on Sunday…
GK: David De Gea
Despite starting three of United’s first four Europa League matches this season, the Spaniard was replaced by Sergio Romero for the Thursday night clash with Feyenoord.
However, even though he kept a clean sheet, De Gea will be back between the sticks when West Ham visit Old Trafford with the club needing a home win.
Jose Mourinho must play his best players in the league and that includes De Gea, who has proven time and time again that he is one world football’s leading glovesmen.
LB: Luke Shaw
The England international seemingly fell out of favour with United boss Mourinho after he refused to play through the pain barrier in the win against Swansea, but Shaw was back in the starting XI against Feyenoord.
After playing his part in a comfortable 4-0 success against the Dutch outfit, the ability he has to make a significant impact going forward could be key to United turning those home league draws into wins – especially against a West Ham side expected to take a defensive mentality to Old Trafford.
CB: Marcos Rojo
Following the injuries to Eric Bailly and Chris Smalling, Rojo has been given an extended opportunity in the United starting XI under Mourinho, and the Argentina international has formed a strong partnership with Phil Jones in recent weeks.
Despite the fact that Blind was preferred to the 26-year-old on Thursday night, the South American should be back in the centre of defence on Sunday, with the likes of Andre Ayew, Diafra Sakho and Simone Zaza to defend against.
CB: Phil Jones
As mentioned previously, the injuries to Bailly and Smalling have given the returning Jones a chance in the starting XI at centre-back, and he has now started United’s last three matches in all competitions after spending the majority of 2016 on the sidelines.
A clean sheet on Thursday would have particularly pleased Mourinh as the Portuguese manager looks to finally find a settled side. The no-nonsense defender should get the nod against the Hammers at Old Trafford.
RB: Antonio Valencia
As with Shaw on the left-hand side, Valencia gives United another attacking outlet from full-back on the right, which this current United team seems to need if they are to become more prolific in the Premier League.
The Red Devils have netted just two goals in their last three home league matches and the Ecuadorian’s crossing ability can be particularly dangerous to the opposition, especially when he finds Zlatan Ibrahimovich, while the 31-year-old also has the pace and defensive nous to deal with the likes of Dimitri Payet and Andre Ayew.
CM: Michael Carrick
Carrick hasn’t had much playing time for United under Mourinho this season, but the 35-year-old has becomea more regular fixture in the starting XI in recent weeks and the Red Devils’ form seems to have been better as a result.
The midfielder’s presence in defensive midfield position allows players like Paul Pogba to roam forward and it has also given more protection for the defence – United have conceded just two goals in their previous three matches in all competitions.
CM: Paul Pogba
When you spend £89m on a player you want to see him in the starting line-up every week and Pogba should once again be in the team for the visit of the Hammers.
As we mentioned before, the cover Carrick provides in midfield means that the Frenchman has been able to get forward more, where he has the ability to influence a match and result with his energy and athleticism. We expect him to cause a few problems for a delicate West Ham defence.
LAM: Henrikh Mkhitaryan
It might not have been the greatest of starts to his Manchester United career, but Mkhitaryan was named as the Man of the Match in the 4-0 win against Feyenoord in the Europa League and the Armenia international could be given his first opportunity to shine in the Premier League since the home defeat to Manchester City in September.
Mkhitaryan had six shots against the Dutch outfit on Thursday night but he also showed he can carry out his defensive duties too by winning the ball back on eight occasions.
CAM: Wayne Rooney
The England captain is another that was recalled to the starting line-up for the match against Feyenoord following the controversy while he was on international duty, and the forward impressed by scoring the opening goal in the 4-0 victory.
It meant that Rooney moved to within one goal of matching Sir Bobby Charlton’s record of 249 for the club and the 31-year-old will want to start against the Irons in order to equal, or even beat, that target.
RAM: Juan Mata
Despite all of the rumours of Mourinho and Mata not getting on, the Spaniard is playing so well at the moment that he simply can’t be left out of the starting XI right now.
The 28-year-old scored his side’s goal in the 1-1 draw with Arsenal last weekend while he also netted against Feyenoord on Thursday, where he was unlucky not to score another with a brilliant chip that was tipped over the crossbar by former Liverpool stopper Brad Jones.
ST: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
The striker missed last weekend’s draw with Arsenal because he was serving a one-match suspension, but after an impressive performance against Feyenoord, where he set up Wayne Rooney for the opening goal before his cross was deflected into the net by the Dutch outfit’s goalkeeper Brad Jones, he’s certain to spearhead the attack this Sunday.
The Swede is Mourinho’s main man up top and should lead the line against the Hammers, while he will be further boosted by the news that Winston Reid will be missing for the visitors following his red card against Tottenham last week.