Manchester United vs. West Ham: Premier League betting odds, preview, and pick

Manchester United know a win at home to West Ham on Saturday will lift them above the Hammers in the table and shift the momentum back towards the Red Devils in the race for a top-four spot.

But nothing will come easy, as West Ham boss David Moyes returns to Old Trafford determined to get one over his previous employers.

Man United are favorites to take the three points at Old Trafford, but there remain more questions around coach Ralf Rangnick’s reign than answers.

Fix It, Ralph!

Manchester United’s Jekyll and Hyde performances showed no signs of stopping on Wednesday, as they beat Brentford 3-1 on the road. It may look a comfortable scoreline on paper, but it was anything but, as Brentford had the far better chances in the opening 55 minutes before United scored against the run of play.

Keeper David De Gea was again a key player for the Red Devils and kept them in the game, before goals from Anthony Elanga, Mason Greenwood, and Marcus Rashford sealed three points.

It was United’s second win in five games since Christmas — a crazy, unpredictable run that has seen them draw with relegation candidates Newcastle, lose 1-0 at home to Wolves, and throw away a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa.

Star signing Cristiano Ronaldo was visibly angry with coach Ralf Rangnick when he was substituted on Wednesday, and that is only fueling rumors of huge cracks in this team. Numerous reports suggest the dressing room is divided, and from what we’re seeing on the pitch, it would be no surprise.

United got away with it twice earlier this season against West Ham. Firstly, Jesse Lingard scored to put Man United up 2-1 in the 89th minute, before West Ham missed a penalty in stoppage time to steal a point.

West Ham got their revenge in a 1-0 win in the League Cup, but it’s been nearly 15 years since United last lost a home league game to the Hammers (10-0-3 in that time), and Rangnick knows nothing but a win will do if his side are to stay in the hunt for a Champions League spot this season.

Moyes returns to the Theatre of Dreams

The trip back to Old Trafford will mean more to coach David Moyes than most after his disappointing tenure in the Manchester United hot seat. Nobody was going to have an easy job replacing Sir Alex Ferguson, and while it did not go to plan for Moyes, he has re-established his reputation with a couple of brilliant seasons at West Ham.

A win here for the visitors would see them put five points between themselves and United, a comfortable cushion in the race for the top four.

West Ham put a nice run together at the start of the year, winning three on the spin against Watford, Crystal Palace, and Norwich. The 3-2 defeat at home to Leeds was a blip last week, but Moyes will be delighted to see his team still finding the back of the net, as the Hammers have averaged 1.9 goals a game this year.

They’ve had joy against the top teams this year, beating Tottenham, Chelsea, and Liverpool already, albeit all three of those wins came on home soil. They’ve only played three games on the road against top-half teams this season, and all three ended in defeat.

The Hammers come into this game having had almost a full week without a game, so you’d expect them to be a lot fresher than United, who had to make the 420-mile round-trip to Brentford in midweek.

Manchester United and West Ham Betting Trends

• Manchester United have kept one clean sheet in 10 league games at home this season
• There have been Over 2.5 goals in 55% of West Ham’s league games on the road this season
• West Ham have kept just two clean sheets in the last 13 league games
• Both teams have scored in five of the last seven league meetings between West Ham and Manchester United
• Manchester United have failed to score in just one of their last 10 league games
• There have been Under 2.5 goals in five of the last seven games between Manchester United and West Ham

A Hammer blow to United's top-four hopes

United have won fewer points per game at home this season than Crystal Palace, which emphasizes just how much the fear factor around Old Trafford has gone.

West Ham will have no fear coming here, especially after their win on the road against United in the cup in September. While the Red Devils have plenty of off-the-field issues, their squad is still packed full of talent, and with so much at stake it would be no surprise to see the teams share the spoils on Saturday.

Jarrod Bowen has three goals in his last two games and will fancy himself to keep that run going against a vulnerable United defense.

Score prediction: Manchester United 1-1 West Ham (+600)

Manchester United vs. West Ham: Under 2.5 goals (+110)

Same Game Combo: Manchester United and West Ham to tie, both teams to score, Jarrod Bowen to score a goal (+1400)