Manchester United v West Ham betting tips: Top-four spot up for grabs at Old Trafford

Currently occupying fourth spot, an ambition that once looked a pipe dream is now a real possibility for the Hammers and their supporters and it would offer the perfect redemption for Moyes following the years of ridicule that came his way after his ill-fated spell in the Old Trafford hot-seat.  

They are two points ahead of the seventh-placed Red Devils, but crucially United hold a game hand and a victory on home soil on Saturday afternoon would see them leapfrog the Hammers in the Premier League table.  

Rangnick’s rusty start 

It is hard to say whether it is taking Ralf Rangnick time to adjust to life managing in the Premier League or if it is the players that are struggling to adapt to the German gaffer’s stringent demands.  

Results have been shaky in the early part of his reign at Old Trafford, but the interim boss will have been delighted by the way they turned a tricky night in Brentford around to come away with, what on paper, reads as a convincing victory.  

The reality, however, is that the 3-1 scoreline papers over the cracks somewhat and the Red Devils have David de Gea to thank for keeping them in the game.  

The Spanish shot-stopper was called on for overtime in a first half that was lacking urgency, creativity or any attacking enterprise with the hosts dominating proceedings.  

The win ensured they secured three points in the top flight for the first time in three games and they will be hoping to develop some winning consistency to boost their Champions League ambitions.  

Three of Manchester United’s last four Premier League home fixtures have ended with a 1-0 scoreline to either side and under 1.5 goals is 13/4 in Manchester United v West Ham betting tips.  

You can also get 8/1 for United to win by a solitary goal to nil and 27/10 for De Gea to keep a clean sheet in a victory for the Red Devils.  

Hammering home the advantage 

West Ham have proven to be a thorn in the top teams’ side this term, beating both Liverpool and Chelsea at the London Stadium, with Manchester United only escaping Stratford with the three points thanks to a last-gasp Jesse Lingard winner.  

However, what could ultimately be their undoing in their quest for Champions League football is the points dropped to mid-table sides they should be beating.  

Case in point was last weekend’s loss to Leeds when Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites came out on top in an entertaining five-goal thriller.  

Jarrod Bowen missed a glorious opportunity to level the scoring in the dying moments of that match and the Hammers can ill-afford to waste their chances in front of goal with the battle for the top-four places ultra-competitive this term.  

However, they already have a win over United at Old Trafford to their name, albeit in the League Cup, and that will give them plenty of heart ahead of their trip to Manchester.  

The Hammers recorded a 1-0 victory on that occasion, with a repeat of that scoreline 14/1 in Manchester United v West Ham betting tips, while Manuel Lanzini grabbed the deciding goal then and is 11/4 to strike again at any time.

Ronaldo’s typical tantrums

It says plenty about the stature of Cristiano Ronaldo that his reaction to being substituted in the second half eclipses the result of the match and is the story that generates the headlines.  

The Portuguese forward was hauled off with 20 minutes remaining by Rangnick and responded with a display of petulance that has been all too familiar at times throughout his career – taking an eternity to leave the field of play while muttering and shaking his head, before throwing his coat to the ground and sitting on a step in the dugout.  

Ronaldo’s desire to be centre of attention combined with his unhealthy obsession of winning seems to be at odds with the team culture Rangnick is trying to develop at both Carrington and on the pitch at Old Trafford.  

He is still United’s most likely outlet in front of goal, but the manager will need to carefully assess how far he lets Ronaldo dictate the narrative at Old Trafford.  

Nevertheless, having been substituted to save his legs for Saturday’s clash, it seems unlikely he will miss out and he can be backed at 11/5 to be Manchester United’s first goalscorer in the match as he was when the two sides met in September.  

He is 10/3 to break the deadlock in Manchester United v West Ham betting tips, while a headline-grabbing hat-trick is priced at 28/1.  

Key Trends 

Goals have been few and far between in matches between these two in recent times, with Manchester United’s 3-1 victory away from home in 2020 the only time there has been more than three goals in the fixture since 2018 and eight games.  

With that in mind, under 2.5 has a chance of landing at 23/20 as one of our Manchester United v West Ham betting tips, while half of those eight games have seen only one side (or none) score and both teams not to score appeals at 13/10.  

Looking at the #YourCall specials on offer, how about under 1.5 goals in the first half, under 2.5 goals in the second half and either team to win at 13/8. 

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All odds and markets correct as of date of publication