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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Samuel Luckhurst & Tyrone Marshall & Steven Railston

How Manchester United should line up vs West Ham in Premier League fixture

Manchester United must bounce back against West Ham in the Premier League away in the capital on Sunday afternoon.

United were defeated 1-0 against Brighton in the dying moments of the match on Thursday night. Luke Shaw conceded a penalty after handling the ball and Alexis Mac Allister made no mistake from the spot to win the game for the hosts.

Rather concerningly, it was another defeat away from home. United have only defeated Fulham and Wolves outside the bottom five clubs in the league this season and they're now set to play West Ham at the London Stadium.

ALSO READ: Manchester United make decision on Wout Weghorst

Regarding the early team news, Alejandro Garnacho was not available against Brighton but he could return to the squad this weekend. Raphael Varane and Scott McTominay remain sidelined with their respective injuries.

Our writers have had their say on how United should line up against West Ham...

Samuel Luckhurst

Brighton are such a good side adjustments were required but United need to be more bullish at West Ham and go with a more balanced back four with Tyrell Malacia back in.

Christian Eriksen was curiously unused at Brighton, where Ten Hag admitted United were overrun in midfield. Anthony Martial moved slowly just getting back to the bench on Thursday night and he is never going to change. The only Martial-related change should be for him to be dropped.

Tyrone Marshall

Shaw is doing an excellent job at centre-back at the moment. He's been so good you wonder whether he might be even better there than at left-back, but his performances are creating a problem, in the lack of a suitable left-back to fill in. I'd go for an unchanged defence at West Ham given the defending was pretty reasonable at Brighton.

There will surely be a change in midfield and you would expect Eriksen to come back in. United bypassed midfield at times against Brighton as they played on the break, but they could do with Eriksen's control in this game.

Options for a change in attack are minimal. Weghorst can't start games and Sancho is in poor form. Martial was good in the first half at Brighton and deserves to start again, with Rashford and Antony out wide.

Steven Railston

Shaw was exceptional until conceding the penalty against Brighton and his partnership with Lindelof remains the best option in central defence with Varane and Martinez, who is out for the season, still sidelined with injury.

Eriksen did not start against Brighton on Thursday and he should return to the side at the expense of Fred. The midfield trio of Casemiro, Eriksen and Fernandes is the strongest available and United need to get a result here.

It also makes sense for Sancho to start on the left wing, with Rashford down the middle and Antony on the right. Martial didn't do enough in midweek to earn another start against West Ham and he should be dropped.

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