West Ham vs. Man Utd: Preview, Predictions and Lineups

London Stadium is braced for a pivotal Premier League showdown on Tuesday evening as West Ham United attempt to throw a wrench into Manchester United’s pursuit of five consecutive top-flight victories for the first time in two years.

Michael Carrick’s visitors arrive in east London on the back of a scintillating five-week stretch that has transformed their season. Since the former midfielder stepped into the dugout at the end of January, United have reeled off league wins over Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham and Tottenham, rocketing from mid-table inertia to fourth place and the cusp of Champions League qualification. The surge has also kept Chelsea and Liverpool at arm’s length in the race for the final European berth.

West Ham, mired in relegation danger for much of the autumn, have discovered a spring pulse under Nuno Espírito Santo, winning four of their last five matches across all competitions. The Hammers also carry the confidence of December’s 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, evidence that the Red Devils are not invincible. Yet denying a United side brimming with momentum will require another collective leap in performance.

Team news tilts the balance further toward the visitors. West Ham remain without centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo, still serving a suspension for violent conduct after his red card versus Chelsea, while veteran keeper Łukasz Fabiański continues to nurse a back injury that has sidelined him since November. Jarrod Bowen, who has tormented United with three goals in his last five meetings with the club, and in-form winger Crysencio Summerville—scoring in five straight appearances—will shoulder the creative burden.

Nuno is expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1: Hermansen; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Disasi, Diouf; Souček, Potts; Bowen, M. Fernandes, Summerville; Castellanos.

United’s infirmary is emptier. Long-term casualties Matthijs de Ligt and Patrick Dorgu remain out, while Mason Mount is unavailable but penciled in for a return against Everton next Monday. Carrick is otherwise set to stick with the XI that dispatched Spurs 2-0, meaning another start for Bryan Mbeumo ahead of Benjamin Šeško. Bruno Fernandes, one assist shy of the club’s single-season away-assist record and boasting a goal or assist in six straight matches, will captain the side from the No. 10 role.

Predicted United XI (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martínez, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Amad, Fernandes, Cunha; Mbeumo.

Historical form offers West Ham a slither of hope: United have not won at the London Stadium since 2021. But history collides with present realities. Carrick’s men, driven by the twin incentives of revenge for December’s stalemate and the chance to secure a milestone fifth straight league win, should have too much firepower and cohesion for a patched-up Hammers rearguard. Expect goals at both ends, yet the points to travel back up the M40.