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Manchester United vs West Ham United: Carabao Cup Preview & Predicted Line-ups

Manchester United and West Ham United go head-to-head at Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup third round on Wednesday.

Only three days after travelling to the London Stadium for a Premier League showdown against the Hammers, United will take on the capital-based outfit on home turf.

Although it is a rare twist of fate, the Red Devils and West Ham locked horns twice in quick succession four years ago during Jose Mourinho’s tenure at Old Trafford.

United squeezed past the Londoners 2-1 in the domestic championship on Sunday, coming from a goal down to eke out all three points, courtesy of David de Gea’s saved penalty in stoppage time. 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side will hope things go more smoothly this time around as they enjoy the privilege of playing in front of a home crowd.

Michail Antonio, who missed the weekend match-up due to suspension, should spearhead West Ham’s hopes of inflicting swift revenge on United.

The Jamaican forward has been in stellar form this season, and keeping him at bay will be a stern test of United’s backline.

Manchester United Preview

Barring an underwhelming 2-1 away defeat to Swiss champions Young Boys, the Red Devils have been exceptional in competitive action this season.

Solskajer’s men have been relentless against Premier League opponents this term, winning all but one of their four top-flight matches.

A 1-1 away draw with Southampton in late August is the solitary exception during this run.

The hosts have failed to negotiate their third-round ties in the competition just twice across their last 16 campaigns, most recently against Championship club Derby County in 2018/19.

Additionally, Man United have ousted West Ham in both previous League Cup encounters on home turf, including a 4-1 thumping in the competition’s quarter-finals in their most recent clash in 2016/17.

West Ham United Preview

West Ham had enjoyed an almost perfect competitive start to this season before losing to United at the weekend, winning three of their five games in all competitions while drawing the other two.

Bringing the 2020/21 campaign into the equation, the Irons are now unbeaten in their last five fixtures against domestic rivals on hostile turf (W3, D2), netting 2+ goals in 60% of those matches.

David Moyes’ men have failed to overcome fellow Premier League rivals in the League Cup six times in their previous eight attempts.

On the bright side, Moyes has navigated past the third round of this competition ten times in 15 attempts, including the last three in a row in charge of three different clubs.

West Ham will have to defy their ‘Old Trafford jinx’ to keep their manager’s run going, having failed to beat Man United at this venue in 17 straight competitive H2Hs since a narrow 1-0 win in May 2007 (D4, L13).

Since severing ties with United in 2014, Moyes has failed to defeat his former employers in eight meetings across all competitions (D2, L6).

Manchester United vs West Ham United Predicted Line-ups

Manchester United (4-2-3-1): David de Gea; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw; Nemanja Matic, Fred; Jadon Sancho, Jesse Lingard, Donny van de Beek; Edinson Cavani.

West Ham United (4-2-3-1): Alphonse Areola; Vladimir Coufal, Issa Diop, Craig Dawson, Ryan Fredericks; Tomas Soucek, Mark Noble; Andriy Yarmolenko, Pablo Fornalns, Manuel Lanzini; Michail Antonio.

Read: Michael Owen blasts Jesse Lingard’s post-goal reaction versus West Ham.

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