West Ham United: Chris Sutton predicts result of Manchester United clash
West Ham will suffer a narrow 1-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday (4 February), Chris Sutton has predicted.
Seeking a first Premier League double over the Red Devils in 17 years, West Ham make the trek north to battle the Red Devils in an intriguing Premier League contest.
The Hammers were held to a 1-1 draw by Bournemouth on Thursday while Erik Ten Hag’s side claimed a dramatic 4-3 win over Wolves, meaning just one point separates the two sides in sixth and seventh place in the table.
David Moyes’ men are on a run of six games unbeaten in the Premier League but Sutton, sharing his predictions for BBC Sport (2 February), is expecting a different result to the one at London Stadium in December when the Hammers triumphed 2-0.
He wrote: “Well, Manchester United won the World Cup again on Thursday night, judging from the reaction to their last-gasp 4-3 victory at Molineux.
“Seriously, though, it was a good win and fair play to them for the way they got it – they certainly needed it.
“West Ham beat them at the London Stadium before Christmas but I am expecting a different outcome at Old Trafford.
“I am not expecting it to be a very open game because Hammers boss David Moyes won’t set up that way, but Manchester United will find a way through.
“Prediction: 1-0.”
West Ham have an Old Trafford curse
Moyes knows all about Old Trafford, but his memories at the stadium aren’t the best. Whether it’s from his time as their manager or elsewhere, he rarely gets a win there.
And Ten Hag’s men will be in rampant mood after their stunning 4-3 win over Wolves in midweek while the Hammers will be entering this one with something of a hangover after the transfer deadline drama with Said Benrahma and Pablo Fornals’ exits from the London Stadium.
West Ham played out an underwhelming 1-1 draw with Bournemouth on deadline day and will be hoping for a more vibrant performance to avoid a defeat at Old Trafford, where they’ve suffered losses in their last three games.
It should be an entertaining game but, in an ideal world, the Hammers will want to make it more boring, as that will no doubt mean they have a better chance of success.
Manchester United can take encouragement from the fact that the Irons are arguably weaker right now from the side they visited back in December. Not looking good for Moyes then?
In other West Ham news, a Hammers exit deal broke down after an offer was made, with a manager rejection detailed.
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