Manchester United welcome West Ham United to Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon after sealing their spot in the final of the Europa League on Thursday night.
The Red Devils have faced the Hammers 155 times in football league history, winning 74.
They have drawn 32 and lost on 49 occasions.
Here are three storylines to look forward to.
Both teams woefully out of form in league
The Red Devils have a wonderful record in Europe and are still unbeaten in 14 European matches this season.
Nonetheless, they have only been victorious in 10 league matches this season. They have also only picked up a woeful two points out of a possible 18 in the last six games.
This run of poor form since the international break has seen them go almost two months without a win in the Premier League.
Moreover, 16 league defeats is the club’s worst record since the 1989-1990 season.
West Ham have hardly been better, as according to the BBC they “are winless in their past eight league games, last enduring a longer run in the competition in May 2011.”
United have a fine record at home versus the Hammers
The Red Devils lost 1-2 earlier in the season to West Ham and this was the game that sealed Erik ten Hag’s fate.
United have had much more luck against the visitors at Old Trafford than in London over the course of previous seasons, however.
“Manchester United are unbeaten in their past 16 Premier League home games against West Ham” with 13 victories and three draws.
They have also won the last four without conceding a goal.
United came out on top 3-0 last season with a double from Alejandro Garnacho and a strike from Rasmus Hojlund.
Importance of the first goal
United have a reputation of mounting comebacks and even in their poorest ebb in Premier League history, managed a famous one against Manchester City in December.
They also spectacularly came back against Olympique Lyonnais at the quarter final stage of the Europa League in extra time.
West Ham, in contrast, “have yet to come from behind to win a Premier League game this season.”
They have drawn six and lost 16 when they have conceded the first goal of a match.
Relegated Southampton and Ipswich Town are the only other sides without a comeback victory. Therefore, United will be desperate to score the first goal in this fixture.
Feature image Eddie Keogh via Getty Images
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Alex Browne
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
