Man United v West Ham: A clash of contrasting trends at Old Trafford

Old Trafford plays host to a fascinating Premier League encounter on Thursday night as Manchester United welcome West Ham United. Catch the action live on SuperSport.
 
While history has long favoured the Red Devils in this fixture, recent trends suggest the balance of power may be shifting. Both sides enter the game with plenty to prove, and the Opta stats paint a picture of a contest layered with storylines.

For decades, Manchester United dominated this matchup, but the tide has turned dramatically in recent seasons. United have lost four of their last five Premier League meetings with West Ham (W1) —a stark contrast to their previous 28 encounters, where they suffered just three defeats (W19 D6 L3).
 
Last season was particularly bruising for United, as West Ham completed a league double, including a 2-0 win at Old Trafford that ended a 16-game winless run away to United in the Premier League. 
 
The Hammers now have the chance to make history: they haven’t won consecutive league visits to Old Trafford since March 1934. A third straight victory over United would echo their golden spell between **December 2006 and December 2007**, when they won three in a row.
 
MIDWEEK FORTRESS V DECEMBER WOES
 
If there’s a silver lining for United, it’s their formidable midweek home record. The Red Devils are unbeaten in their last 17 midweek Premier League games at Old Trafford (W14 D3), winning the last eight in succession. Their last midweek home defeat came against Liverpool in May 2021—a stat that should give Rúben Amorim some confidence.
 
However, December has been a cruel month for United in recent years. They’ve lost nine of their last 14 Premier League matches in December (W4 D1), including the last three without scoring. This slump is a sharp reversal from their previous festive dominance, when they went 15 games unbeaten (W12 D3). Amorim will be desperate to halt that trend and avoid adding another unwanted record to his tenure.
 
Speaking of Amorim, the Portuguese boss faces a critical juncture. He has already lost nine of his 19 Premier League matches at Old Trafford (W8 D2). Should United fall again, Amorim would become the fastest manager in club history to reach 10 home top-flight defeats, surpassing AH Albut’s record of 23 games set in the 1890s. For a club built on home dominance, that’s a statistic that underscores the scrutiny on Amorim’s reign.
 
WEST HAM’S AWAY-DAY PUZZLE
 
While West Ham have enjoyed recent success against United, their away form under Nuno Espírito Santo is faltering. Since a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest in August, the Hammers are winless in four Premier League away games (D2 L2). Santo risks joining an unwanted club himself: the last West Ham manager to fail to win any of his first five away league matches was Avram Grant in 2010.
 
That said, West Ham have a curious Thursday record: they’ve lost just two of 13 Premier League games played on a Thursday (W6 D5). However, only two of those wins came outside London—against Southampton in 2018 and 2024. Can they add Old Trafford to that list?
 
KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH
 
Jarrod Bowen: The Hammers’ talisman scored in both league meetings with United last season. If he finds the net again, he’ll emulate Jermain Defoe, the last West Ham player to score in three straight games against United (2001-2002).
 
Bruno Fernandes: United’s captain has a peculiar record—he’s played more Premier League games against West Ham without scoring than any other club (11). Despite 27 shots, he’s yet to break his duck. Could Thursday finally be the night?
 
THE TACTICAL BATTLE
 
United will look to leverage their midweek home momentum and dominate possession, but their December struggles and Amorim’s under-pressure status could make them cautious. 
 
West Ham, buoyed by recent head-to-head success, may opt for a compact shape and quick transitions, with Bowen and Kudus primed to exploit spaces behind United’s full-backs.
 
This fixture feels like a collision of conflicting trends: United’s midweek home invincibility versus their December fragility; West Ham’s recent dominance versus their away-day blues. 
 
Expect a tense, tactical battle where the first goal could be decisive. A narrow United win or a gritty West Ham draw seems most plausible—but if Bowen strikes early, history could be rewritten at Old Trafford.