West Ham vs Man Utd prediction and match breakdown as Erik ten Hag continues to stutter without consistency

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One step forward, two steps back is how Erik ten Hag has been at Manchester United since a great debut season so the win vs Brentford was never going to be followed up.

A 1-1 draw at Fenerbahce is great in theory but not holistically, considering Manchester United also drew their first two games.

However, at least the win vs Brentford should allow them to go on a winning run in the league, starting with the West Ham fixture away from home.

Julen Lopetegui’s side has struggled for results and performances this season and with Mohamed Kudus out vs Man Utd, Erik ten Hag couldn’t have faced them at a better time.

Here’s West Ham United vs Man Utd prediction and analysis-

Tactical breakdown and analysis

After David Moyes left West Ham, there was a clear effort from the board to ‘evolve’ the team from the Scot’s physical counter-attacking style of football.

However, eight games in, not only are West Ham struggling to evolve, their results have gone down the drain.

With just eight points after eight games, they sit 16th in the table, having scored just 11 games and showing no semblance of the advanced and modern attacking play Lopetegui was brought for.

The Spaniard did well with Wolves before departing over disagreements in transfer policy but he was backed in his first summer at the club so there are no excuses here.

As always, Jarrod Bowen remains the danger man on the right wing which means United have another team whose biggest strength is at their biggest weakness- left-back.

Kudus’ absence theoretically makes West Ham weaker but he had been playing on the left, where Cryscencio Summerville comes in and makes them a transition threat.

The presence of Michail Antonio and Tomas Soucek will make sure that the transition threat is still aided by plenty of physicality, which is perhaps why Ten Hag has been yearning for Jonny Evans to return in some capacity.

For United, Alejandro Garnacho is flying but he will be up against the player expert in locking down opposition wingers.

United would know that first-hand since Aaron Wan-Bissaka did that for them many times in his five years at Old Trafford. Therefore, combination plays will be needed that side instead of “get your head down and dribble” style of play.

West Ham vs Man Utd prediction

United have lost their last two meetings at the London Stadium as they would always get caught out by Moyes’ frantic and physical style of play.

In that sense, Lopetegui’s arrival changes the dynamics of this game. However, the stadium is bound to be rocking since the fans will be eager to get their team up the table.

Bruno Fernandes and Rasmus Hojlund starting will immediately add goal threat to the United side which seemed missing vs Fenerbahce and the clinical finishing has been returning too.

The problem remains a lack of chance creation but this West Ham team will give chances, as evidenced by their 15 goals conceded in eight games.

If United can replicate their second-half performance vs Brentford here, then there’s no reason why they shouldn’t walk away with three points.

With the next league game vs Chelsea, they absolutely cannot afford to drop more points. If there’s a decision on Ten Hag in the next international break, this might well be the game where it’s made.

United in Focus predicts West Ham 1-3 Man Utd.