Preview of MU vs West Ham (03:00, 5/12): A command to win for the Red Devils

04/12/2025 07:25:00 ceshi

MU's wins, in various ways, are always questioned and doubted. Yet, sustaining them is the sole method for Ruben Amorim's squad to advance step by step in the Premier League standings.

If the formula for building a winning team is sound tactics and players delivering peak performance as expected, this is not entirely true for Amorim's MU approach to securing victories in the Premier League. They chase wins through imperfection and decisions that appear tactically irrational.

No need to play beautifully, just need to win

This can be illustrated by the recent 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace, a match where many still wonder how MU transformed from a lifeless team in the first half into a revitalized squad scoring two goals by Zirkzee and Mount. Amorim’s attacking strategy was clear: focus on Crystal Palace’s right flank. Joshua Zirkzee was central to this plan while Mason Mount aimed to draw the right-sided center-back Chris Richards out of position so Bruno Fernandes could exploit the gaps left in Palace’s defense to create scoring chances for himself and teammates.

However, this plan failed as MU’s passes did not sync well with the players’ movements. Additionally, defensive errors, especially Yoro’s foul leading to a penalty, caused MU to concede a goal, making everyone believe Selhurst Park would witness Amorim's side suffer their second consecutive defeat within a week.

MU is currently unpredictable, capable of winning in situations few expect

What happened after the break? MU’s attacking quality indeed improved in the second half, but this was partly because Crystal Palace couldn’t maintain their high intensity after playing a Conference League match in France the previous Thursday. Amorim believes a slight adjustment helped his team engineer an unexpected comeback: "We tried to change a bit. But the intensity and how we connected the positions, especially with Zirkzee, improved, resulting in a significant enhancement in our playing quality."

Commentators’ booth: MU’s win still leaves many doubts

MU’s form is very hard to predict

This makes MU unpredictable even to their own fans, let alone opponents. They played poorly when scoring first, as seen in two away draws against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham (both 2-2), struggled when playing with a numerical advantage against Everton (and lost narrowly). Yet when trailing, their determination to fight back and moments of brilliance from players like Mount and Zirkzee helped MU beat Crystal Palace, securing their second away win of the season.

It’s very difficult to forecast which version of MU will show up when they return home to face West Ham. Old Trafford has seen Amorim’s team claim four victories against Burnley, Chelsea, Sunderland, and Brighton, but losses to Arsenal and recently Everton show that MU’s home ground isn’t an impregnable fortress. Nuno Santo’s West Ham has a poor away record with only one win in six road games this season. However, judging MU now by statistics alone is unwise, as Amorim’s side can overturn all predictions just like they challenged MU fans’ hearts with their Crystal Palace comeback.

Currently, MU faces various personnel challenges. Cunha is expected to return against West Ham, but Amorim is unsure who to sacrifice to make room for the Brazilian striker. Zirkzee impressed with a spectacular goal against Crystal Palace and it would be harsh not to give the Dutch forward at least one chance to prove he is the center-forward MU needs while Benjamin Sesko remains sidelined. Similarly, Mount is highly valued by Amorim and is hard to bench unless due to injury. Further back, Casemiro and Patrick Dorgu have each received four yellow cards this season and one more caution would sideline them for the next match. While Dalot could replace Dorgu, Casemiro missing would be disastrous as other midfielders like Manuel Ugarte or Kobbie Mainoo have not met expectations or are not in Amorim’s plans. The Portuguese coach will surely remind these two about controlling their challenges as the season is not even halfway through.

Paul Merson: Crystal Palace win is a turning point for MU

Former midfielder Paul Merson believes the victory over Crystal Palace sends a positive signal for MU and he expects Amorim’s team to secure another three points against West Ham: "I expect plenty of goals in the match against West Ham. I don’t think West Ham will trouble MU much. MU needs to maintain consistent form and hopefully the win over Crystal Palace sets Amorim’s side on the right path."

Comment (0)