Paul Merson raises Erik ten Hag point in West Ham United v Manchester United prediction
Paul Merson has predicted West Ham United will claim a 2-2 draw against Manchester United on Sunday (27 October) with the pressure on the visitors to get a result.
Julen Lopetegui’s side fell to a crushing 4-1 defeat to Spurs last weekend, in which the FA charged the club and Mohammed Kudus for the brawl that ensued at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium following the forward’s red card for violent conduct.
Sky Sports pundit Merson believes the Hammers can bounce back from the defeat, as part of his Sportskeeda Premier League predictions [24 October], citing the pressure will be more on Erik ten Hag to get a result at the London Stadium.
He said: “This is a big game for West Ham. Irrespective of where they are or how they are performing, Manchester United are still a big club and when they come visiting, it will be a special occasion.
“I actually think these teams can cause each other a lot of problems. I don’t mean to disrespect Manchester United, but this is a great game for West Ham to turn their season around.
“We all agree they haven’t clicked as well as they would have liked, but if that happens on Sunday, this could be a massive test for Manchester United.
“Erik ten Hag will always be under pressure as manager of Manchester United. If he goes out and loses this game, they are getting beaten by a team sitting 15th in the league table and that’s nowhere near good enough for a club like United.
“If he wins, well it’s normal because you are expected to win these games. It feels as if no matter what he does, it’s tough for him to get on the good books right away.
“I don’t think he’s going anywhere though. He’s in it for the long haul at Manchester United, that’s the plan they have put in place at Old Trafford. I’m expecting a draw here.”
Julen Lopetegui has a huge selection dilemma at West Ham United
To be without Kudus is one thing, but Lopetegui is facing a selection crisis in East London ahead of the must-win clash with several key players underperforming under the Spaniard.
As per GiveMeSport, Lopetegui is considering axing Lucas Paqueta and Alphonse Areola as he looks to flip the script in a desperate attempt to turn around the fortunes of his West Ham side.
No Irons player has particularly covered themselves in glory this season and, with only five points separating the side from the drop zone, results need to improve now before chaos ensues at the club.
What Lopetegui needs now more than ever are players who are eager to sport the claret and blue and determined to help the manager become a success in the Premier League.
While the boss is under immense pressure in East London, his concerns are minute compared to his Manchester United counterpart and the Hammers could leapfrog the 12th-placed side with a victory this weekend.
It is time for West Ham to justify the £150m outlay on new talent this summer and the decision to appoint Lopetegui as David Moyes’ successor. There may be no better time to do so than against a struggling Manchester United side.
In other West Ham news, Jamie Carragher has predicted the scoreline for the Hammers’ clash against Manchester United.
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