Manchester United vs West Ham United Predictions

• Manchester United have conceded two or more goals in six of their last seven Premier League games
• West Ham have scored two or more goals in five of their last six Premier League away games
• Tomas Soucek has scored five goals in his last 16 Premier League appearances

Mainoo’s magic moment papered over the cracks 

Manchester United can leapfrog West Ham to move back into the top six with victory at Old Trafford on Sunday, but it will take a better all-round display than they produced in beating Wolves 4-3 on Thursday.

Kobbie Mainoo’s brilliant stoppage-time winner papered over the cracks that emerged all too easily once United came under pressure at Molineux. The Red Devils almost paid the price for familiar failings in both penalty boxes as Erik ten Hag’s side wasted a hatful of chances to put the game to bed before half-time, then demonstrated an amateurish level of game management in the second half.

Attack appears to be United’s best form of defence at the moment with Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund both beginning to find their groove while Andre Onana struggles to regain his confidence behind a porous backline.

Onana gambled with his positioning yet again for Pedro Neto’s late equaliser, having already seen his team concede from another set-piece. His devilishly bad defence has now allowed 52 league goals, only seven fewer than rock-bottom Sheffield United.

Hammers appear happier away from home

United may need to score three times to win this contest given their record of conceding two or more goals now stands at five straight league games — and the Hammers have been much more prolific on the road than at home of late.

David Moyes, who earned his first-ever win over his former employers in December’s 2-0 London Stadium stroll, has seen his side score exactly two goals in five of their last six away assignments.

They recovered well from the shock of gifting Bournemouth the early lead on Thursday to remain unbeaten in the league for seven weeks. Kalvin Phillips could probably put his gross error down to rustiness and should be in better shape for that 68-minute run-out – his first meaningful league start since he wore a Leeds shirt.

Meanwhile, Phillips’ likely central midfield partner Tomas Soucek will be a threat in aerial situations and could add to his five-goal tally for the campaign if the Hammers have been following what other teams have done to United on set plays.