(Football news) While the Irons were humiliated 4-1 by London rivals Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, the Red Devils earned a relief-inducing 2-1 win over Brentford before escaping Fenerbahce with a 1-1 draw in the Europa League.
Manchester United’s two most successful head coaches of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era collided on Thursday evening, where Ten Hag managed to keep his head as Jose Mourinho lost his in a frenetic Europa League draw, one which saw Christian Eriksen and Youssef En-Nesyri find the mark.
Even the most ardent Manchester United fan will accept that they were fortunate to leave with a share of the spoils, though, as Andre Onana had to be called upon on several occasions to repel the Turkish giants, whose volatile manager was sent to the stands after his side were denied a second-half spot kick.
A few days before Mourinho’s Europa League outburst, Man United staff went into meltdown mode when Ethan Pinnock headed Brentford into the lead at Old Trafford—a bloodied Matthijs de Ligt was off the pitch receiving treatment at the time—but Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund completed a critical turnaround for Ten Hag.
That come-from-behind success is the only victory Manchester United have to shout about in their last seven matches, though, and the Premier League table still makes for grim reading for Sunday’s visitors, who reside in a mediocre 12th spot and are six points off the top four.
However, the away statistics make for relatively pleasant viewing for Man United, who are now unbeaten in five on the road – albeit while drawing each of their last four – and keeping three straight Premier League clean sheets away from home against Southampton, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace.
As Manchester United go in search of four straight Premier League away clean sheets for the first time since July 2020, West Ham bid to end a seven-match run without a shut-out in any competition after last weekend’s North London nightmare.
Things were momentarily looking up for Julen Lopetegui when Mohammed Kudus broke the deadlock, but the Ghanaian’s dream start preceded a dirty finale in which he was rightfully sent off for lashing out at more than one Tottenham player after Spurs had struck four goals of their own.
Lopetegui’s side were given a taste of their 4-1 medicine after thumping Ipswich Town by the same scoreline at the beginning of the month, but last weekend’s painful setback leaves them in a lowly 15th place, although victory by any margin would take them above Manchester United on goal difference.
While the Irons’ attacking record trumps that of their visitors (11 goals to seven), West Ham are on an abysmal run of 13 home games without a Premier League clean sheet since January’s goalless draw with Brighton & Hove Albion, their first top-flight game of 2024.
However, West Ham’s last PL home match of 2023 ended in a 2-0 triumph over Manchester United under the wing of David Moyes—their second straight home success over the Red Devils—but revenge was Ten Hag’s when Sunday’s visitors prevailed 3-0 at Old Trafford in early February.
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