Manchester Utd Vs West Ham United

As the 2024–25 Premier League season winds toward its final stretch, Manchester United turn their focus back to domestic matters this weekend, hoping to recover a modicum of league form when they host struggling West Ham United at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon. With continental glory still in sight after a resounding midweek win in Europe, the Red Devils now seek to close out a turbulent league campaign on a high note—while the Hammers, facing one of their bleakest seasons in over a decade, arrive in Manchester desperate to avoid further ignominy.

Manchester United come into this fixture buoyed by their recent Europa League triumph over Athletic Bilbao, a tie in which they emphatically underlined their European credentials. Holding a commanding 3-0 advantage from the first leg in Spain, United left no room for doubt in the return match at the Theatre of Dreams, where they dispatched the Basque side 4-1 on Thursday night to complete a dominant 7-1 aggregate victory. It was a statement of intent from Ruben Amorim’s men, who have struggled for consistency in the Premier League but have clearly found another gear in Europe. The result books United’s ticket to the Europa League final, where they’ll face none other than fellow English side Tottenham Hotspur in a showdown that will not only determine a European trophy but could also offer a backdoor route into next season’s Champions League—a crucial incentive for both clubs, considering their domestic struggles.

In stark contrast to their European form, United’s performances in the Premier League have fallen well short of expectations. A proud club with a storied history of top-flight success, they find themselves languishing in an unfamiliar and unsettling position: 15th in the league table, just a handful of points above the relegation zone. With only three matches left in the season, United have failed to reach the 40-point safety threshold that usually marks top-flight survival, a grim reality that reflects the scale of their collapse in domestic play.

Their most recent Premier League outing did little to improve morale. Last Sunday, the Red Devils were involved in a chaotic seven-goal contest against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium—a game that ultimately saw them leave empty-handed. Despite showing flashes of attacking flair, United’s defensive vulnerabilities were laid bare once again as Thomas Frank’s men came out on top in a 4-3 thriller. That defeat extended United’s winless streak in the league to six games, during which they’ve collected just two points. It’s a dismal run of form that has compounded fan frustration and placed considerable pressure on Amorim, who, despite progress in Europe, has yet to convince some sections of the United faithful.

Amid the gloom, there have been some glimmers of optimism, particularly from summer signing Mason Mount. The former Chelsea midfielder, whose debut campaign at Old Trafford has been interrupted by injuries and inconsistency, finally made a significant impact in Thursday’s Europa League demolition. Mount bagged his first goals at home for United, netting a brace against Bilbao and looking every bit the dynamic, goal-scoring presence he was brought in to be. His recent upturn in form—three goals in his last two appearances—suggests he could yet play a pivotal role in salvaging something from United’s season. For Mount, as for many in this United squad, a strong finish in Europe could provide a redemptive ending to an otherwise turbulent year.

While United’s campaign has been frustrating, West Ham’s trajectory has arguably been even more disappointing. After lifting the Europa Conference League trophy in 2023—a historic triumph that marked a high point in the club’s modern history—the Hammers have endured a steep decline. The departure of long-serving manager David Moyes triggered a period of instability, and his replacement, former Chelsea boss Graham Potter, has struggled to instill consistency in a squad that now looks bereft of confidence and identity.

As things stand, West Ham appear destined to record their worst Premier League finish since the 2010–11 season, when they ended the campaign rock bottom in 20th place. While they have not been dragged into a full-blown relegation battle this time around—thanks largely to the inadequacies of the newly promoted sides—they’ve flirted dangerously close to the drop zone for much of the season. Heading into this weekend’s clash, the Hammers sit just above the relegation places, a relatively comfortable 15 points clear of 18th-placed Ipswich Town with three games remaining. That cushion should be enough to secure their safety mathematically, but it does little to disguise the underperformance that has defined their campaign.

Last Sunday, Potter’s side extended their winless streak in the Premier League to eight matches following a 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur at the London Stadium. While a point against one of the league’s more dangerous sides might, on paper, seem encouraging, the reality is that West Ham were once again left ruing missed opportunities. Spurs opened the scoring early through Wilson Odobert, but the Hammers showed resilience to hit back, with Jarrod Bowen continuing his fine individual campaign by netting his 10th goal of the league season. The England international has been one of the few bright spots for West Ham this term, and his consistency in front of goal has not gone unnoticed—there is growing speculation that he could feature in Gareth Southgate’s plans for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, now under new manager Thomas Tuchel.

Bowen’s contributions have been vital for a West Ham side that has often looked short on attacking imagination and defensive steel. With the likes of Lucas Paquetá, Tomas Soucek, and Nayef Aguerd underperforming compared to last season, much of the burden has fallen on Bowen’s shoulders. In Sunday’s encounter at Old Trafford, Potter will hope his star forward can once again rise to the occasion and provide the spark that might end their barren run and finally deliver three crucial points.

However, history is not on West Ham’s side when it comes to trips to Old Trafford. The Hammers have lost each of their last four visits to the iconic stadium across all competitions, with their most recent success at the venue coming back in September 2021. On that occasion, a solitary goal from Manuel Lanzini was enough to knock United out of the EFL Cup, but repeat victories have been elusive ever since. The London club’s record away to United in the Premier League is bleak, and with morale low and pressure mounting, they face an uphill battle to change that narrative on Sunday.

Manchester United, for their part, will be looking to draw inspiration from their midweek heroics and build some momentum ahead of the Europa League final. With Champions League qualification on the line, Amorim may look to rotate his squad slightly to preserve key players—but given their perilous league position, he cannot afford to take too many chances. The manager must strike a delicate balance between resting legs and securing a much-needed domestic win, especially with the fan base still reeling from a season that has veered dramatically off course.

Defensive issues remain a particular concern for United, who have conceded far too many goals in the league this season. Injuries to key defenders have exacerbated the problem, forcing Amorim to rely on makeshift backlines and untested combinations. The lack of cohesion at the back was evident in the chaotic defeat to Brentford, where lapses in concentration and poor organization cost them dearly. West Ham, despite their own attacking struggles, will fancy their chances of exploiting those weaknesses—particularly on the counterattack, where Bowen’s pace and finishing ability could prove decisive.

Offensively, United will hope that the likes of Rasmus Højlund and Alejandro Garnacho can provide the firepower to complement Mount’s recent surge. Højlund, the Danish striker brought in last summer to lead the line, has shown flashes of promise but remains inconsistent. Garnacho, the mercurial Argentine winger, has become a fan favorite with his flair and fearlessness, but he too is still learning how to influence games over 90 minutes. Together, they represent the future of United’s attack—a future that must start producing in the present if the club hopes to end the season on a high.

With so much on the line for both sides—albeit for very different reasons—Sunday’s clash at Old Trafford promises to be a compelling encounter. For Manchester United, it’s a chance to reestablish some authority at home, silence the critics, and build confidence heading into their most important match of the season in Europe. For West Ham, it’s a final opportunity to restore some pride, halt their decline, and potentially lift themselves clear of a demoralizing league finish.