Manchester United Vs West Ham Preview By: Babatunde Ajibade (Manchester United correspondent) Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade    Twitter: ollyzjinx01          Instagram: sir_ajirowo01   Manchester United and West Ham United wrap up the midweek Premier League fixtures under the lights at Old Trafford on Thursday night—two teams separated by 10 places and 10 points heading into gameweek 14.   United arrive with renewed belief after a spirited 2-1 comeback win at Selhurst Park. Despite falling behind to a retaken Mateta penalty—thanks to yet another rule adjustment—the Red Devils showed character. Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount turned the game around with two brilliantly executed goals, both assisted by Bruno Fernandes’ sharp vision from set pieces. Uplifting? Yes. Encouraging? Maybe. But Manchester United fans know this team too well—brilliant one day, unrecognisable the next. Consistency remains the biggest obstacle, and West Ham, who did the double over United last season, will not make things easy. United finally broke their four-game goal drought at Selhurst Park, but the first 45 minutes were simply unacceptable. The players only woke up in the second half, proving once again that this team performs only when it feels like it. That mentality must change if the push for Europe is truly on. Still, taking advantage of Palace’s Thursday-Sunday schedule played a key part—just as predicted. Stretch the opposition, press their tired legs, and force errors. United executed this perfectly in the second half. The January window is approaching, and Manchester United are reportedly exploring midfield reinforcements, with João Gomes (Wolves) and Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace) on their radar. Talks with agents have reportedly begun.   United are also searching for wing-backs and a new No. 10 ahead of the AFCON period. FIFA recently confirmed that clubs must release African players by December 15th, 2025, a decision seen as disrespectful by some African nations. However, it benefits United: both Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo will still be available for the Bournemouth match. Even with a poor first half against Palace, the eventual win is the mark of a big club—but these players constantly need reminding of the badge they represent. A victory on Thursday could push United into the top six, keeping European hopes alive. Last season, West Ham beat United home and away—a painful double. United responded by defeating them in the preseason, but competitive matches are a different beast. The good news: Matheus Cunha is back. The concerning news: Ruben Amorim hinted at two injury doubts, wisely refusing to name them—showing he’s learning from past media handling mistakes. Ruben Amorim has lost just once in the last seven matches, but he is dangerously close to an unwanted club record. If United lose, he becomes the fastest manager in club history to register 10 Premier League home defeats, doing so in only 20 matches. Historically, December has also been cruel to United—they’ve lost their last three Premier League games in the month without scoring a single goal.   Nuno Espírito Santo gave West Ham a brief spark with a three-game unbeaten run, but their momentum stalled with a home defeat to Liverpool. The Hammers will be desperate to climb out of the relegation zone quickly.   History is on their side: They completed a historic double over United last season. They won 2–1 at the London Stadium in what became Ten Hag’s final match. They followed that up with a 2–0 victory at Old Trafford in May. Another win would give them back-to-back Old Trafford league victories for the first time since 1934. So once again, United fans are faced with the same weekly dilemma: Will Manchester United finally produce 90 minutes of concentration, composure, and courage? Or will they crumble, invite pressure, and rely on yet another desperate comeback? One positive sign: United are unbeaten in their last 17 midweek Premier League home games (W14, D3), including eight straight victories. Drop your score predictions below!   Manchester United record against Crystal Palace: Games won: 74 Games drawn: 32 Games lost: 50     Team News: (As of today, 03/12/2025,) Manchester United: Benjamin Sesko and Harry Maguire are out for this game. There may be two others that the manager refused to mention in his press conference. West Ham: Summerville and Paqueta are out for this game.     Prediction: United desperately need these three points to enter the top six, especially after their embarrassing loss to 10-man Everton at Old Trafford. With momentum from the Palace win, I expect a tough but crucial victory. Manchester United 3-1 West Ham United.      

Crystal Palace Vs Manchester United Preview By: Babatunde Ajibade (Manchester United correspondent) Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade    Twitter: ollyzjinx01          Instagram: sir_ajirowo01   Manchester United head to Selhurst Park under heavy pressure and even heavier scrutiny after a disastrous showing at Old Trafford against Everton. The boos that echoed around the stadium said it all. Losing 1–0 to a 10-man Everton side — and conceding after they went a man down — was embarrassing on every level. From the touchline to the pitch, it was shambolic. Many fans are asking the same question: How much more can the board tolerate before admitting the Amorim experiment has failed?   United have not scored against Crystal Palace in their last four meetings — and after the lifeless performance against Everton, confidence isn’t exactly flowing. Starting a match with five defenders against a team reduced to ten men was baffling. Shifting Amad into unfamiliar positions didn’t help either. The tactical confusion is becoming a weekly theme, and now they travel to a stadium where their recent record is terrible. The international break may have come at the worst possible time. United had built momentum with 11 points from five Premier League games, but that form now looks like it was papering over deeper cracks — cracks that were fully exposed on Monday night. The Red Devils are barely hanging on to a top-half spot. They’ve failed to keep a clean sheet in five straight matches and continue to struggle away from home. Their London record is even worse: 16 losses in their last 26 Premier League games in the capital — the worst of any top-flight side during that period.   A painful stat surfaced recently: Amorim: 9 wins in 35 Premier League games, Ten Hag (same period last year): 23 wins. The numbers speak for themselves. Poor in-game management. Poor structure. Poor identity. United ended the Everton defeat with 25 attempts — but scored none — while conceding from the only shot they faced. Their xG tells the same story: xG For: 20.1 → actual goals: 19 (two were own goals) Conversion rate: 10.4% — 7th worst in the league They create chances, but they can’t finish them.   Crystal Palace, on the other hand, are flying. Only Arsenal have conceded fewer Premier League goals this season. Oliver Glasner’s side sit fifth and have kept three straight clean sheets against Wolves, Brentford, and Brighton. Their defensive confidence is sky-high, and recent history backs it up: Three wins in their last four league games vs Man United (D1) Two wins in their last four at Selhurst Park vs Man United Opta supercomputer predictions  says Palace to win is 54.1% United aren’t just underdogs, they’re clear underdogs. So here we are again, asking what has become a weekly question for Manchester United supporters: Will this team finally show 90 minutes of concentration and courage or will they crumble, invite pressure, and rely on another desperate comeback attempt? Comment below with your score predictions!   Manchester United record against Crystal Palace: Games won: 41 Games drawn: 14 Games lost: 13     Team News: (As of today 29/11/2025,) Crystal Palace: Caleb Kporha, Borna Sosa, Cheick Doucoure , Chadi Riad  and Rio Cardines are out for this game. Manchester United: Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Harry Maguire are out for this game.     Prediction: United sometimes deliver when everyone has written them off, and they should have more energy than Palace. But this team has a habit of sleeping through the first half, and Selhurst Park is a brutal place for a team low on confidence. Crystal Palace 1-1 Manchester United.    

Manchester United Vs Everton Preview By: Babatunde Ajibade (Manchester United correspondent) Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade    Twitter: ollyzjinx01          Instagram: sir_ajirowo01   The international break is over, and as Pep Guardiola famously said, “the season starts now.” For Manchester United, however, another distraction looms—the AFCON tournament in December, where they will lose three important players: Amad Diallo, Bryan Mbeumo, and Noussair Mazraoui. Thankfully, all three are still available for Monday night’s clash with Everton, meaning United must gather as many points as possible before their departures.   United’s last match against Tottenham felt like a defeat despite the 2–2 scoreline. The team once again surrendered control after taking the lead, and injuries to Harry Maguire and Benjamin Sesko made the night even more costly. Matthijs de Ligt’s late header extended the unbeaten run to five matches (three wins, two draws), but that run should have been five straight victories. Losing concentration in consecutive matches remains a worrying trend—one that has haunted United for nearly five years. The question now is: Can they start this brutal run of fixtures with a convincing win on Monday?   Off the pitch, Manchester United made headlines this week after reports emerged about the club’s ambition to launch an official basketball team—a long-standing dream, considering their status as one of Europe’s richest football institutions. With the women’s team thriving, United believe the time has come to expand further and compete globally across multiple sports, similar to Real Madrid and other European giants.   Back to football: Monday marks the one-year anniversary of Ruben Amorim’s first game in charge. United return to Old Trafford seeking more home comfort, having collected 12 of a possible 15 points at the Theatre of Dreams this season. They sit just three points off third place heading into a defining run of fixtures.   United’s record against Everton has been strong, winning six of their last seven meetings and staying unbeaten in the process. The Toffees have dropped two of their last four games, and while David Moyes has made Everton more competitive this season, he has never hidden his desire for revenge against the club that sacked him. His teams always come prepared for a battle against United.   Interestingly, United are only three points better off under Amorim than they were at this stage last season under Erik ten Hag. Yet the team looks more connected, especially in the first half, where they have scored more goals (11) than any other Premier League side. However, they have the league’s worst record for second-half goals conceded (14), displaying a frustrating duality: more resilient, yet still vulnerable.   Opta’s supercomputer gives United a 50.9% chance of winning, compared to Everton’s 24.2%, but Moyes’ men cannot be underestimated. They’ve collected four points from their last two matches, including a solid 2-0 win over Fulham before the break. And while they haven’t beaten United at Old Trafford since 2013, they have shown clear improvement this season—earning 50% more points than at this stage last year and remaining in touching distance of the European spots.   The only major worry for Everton is maintaining intensity. Their 1–1 draw with Sunderland highlighted their struggle to stay sharp for the full 90 minutes. They’ve also failed to win their last nine Monday night Premier League games—a run stretching back to December 2021.   Jack Grealish could be Everton’s secret weapon. On loan from Manchester City, he recorded four assists from just five chances created across his first three league games, earning the Player of the Month award in August. His creativity has remained consistent—19 chances created in seven matches—but Everton’s finishing has let him down.   So the question stands: Will Manchester United finally show 90 minutes of focus and take control of their season, or will they once again invite pressure and be forced into another comeback? Comment below with your score predictions!   Manchester United record against Everton: Games won: 96 Games drawn: 48 Games lost: 71     Team News: (As of today 22/11/2025) Manchester United: Benjamin Sesko, Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire are out for this game. Everton: Jarrad Branthwaite remains sidelined (hamstring), while Nathan Patterson is unavailable after he recently underwent groin surgery.     Prediction: The Red Devils need to rack up points before the AFCON tournament starts which means a win is needed now more than ever, so I believe they should be able to come out with a win. Manchester United 2-1 Everton.  

By: Babatunde Ajibade (Manchester United correspondent) Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade    Twitter: ollyzjinx01          Instagram: sir_ajirowo01   After Rúben Amorim and Bryan Mbeumo claimed the Manager and Player of the Month awards, respectively, it finally feels like Manchester United is heading in the right direction, though not quite back to their best just yet. Despite a 2-2 draw in their last away game against Nottingham Forest, there’s growing optimism among the Red Devils’ faithful.   Now, attention turns to Sunday’s clash against Tottenham Hotspur, a side that has haunted United recently. Will Amorim’s men finally get revenge and secure their first win over Spurs this season? Both sides enter this fixture with nearly identical Premier League records: five wins and three losses in ten games, scoring 17 goals apiece. The key difference lies at the back. Spurs have conceded only eight compared to United’s 16. That defensive gap could be decisive.   During the week, Manchester United’s Director of Football, Jason Wilcox, emphasized the club’s shift in recruitment strategy, focusing on players’ professionalism and character off the pitch. Speaking to Sky Sports, he noted:   “When we sign a player, it’s not just about talent. The data team, scouts, and background checks all matter. We’re looking for clean-living professionals ready to plug in and play with minimal transition.”   That change is already paying off. United are unbeaten in four matches (W3 D1), showing improved attacking fluidity while still needing to tighten up defensively.   But history doesn’t favor them. Sir Alex Ferguson’s famous quote, “Lads, it’s Tottenham”,  doesn’t carry much weight anymore. United are winless in their last seven meetings with Spurs across all competitions, losing five, including each of the last four. Remarkably, Spurs beat United four times last season, including in the Europa League Final.   Currently sitting eighth in the league, level on points with Spurs and Chelsea, United will look to extend their unbeaten run to five games for the first time since early 2024. Their attacking stats are encouraging: only Liverpool (156) has taken more shots this season than United (153), and no team has registered more shots on target (54), according to Opta Analyst.   Bryan Mbeumo remains one of the key threats going forward. The Cameroonian has scored four goals against Spurs, three of them at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and will be eager to add to that tally alongside Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Šeško.   Meanwhile, Tottenham’s home form has been far from convincing. No side has lost more home league games in 2025 than Spurs (nine). Across his last 16 home Premier League matches, manager Thomas Frank has lost nine and won only three, a worrying trend. Their recent 1-0 home defeat to Chelsea saw them register an xG of just 0.1, the lowest by any team in a league game this season.   Yet, just days later, Spurs produced a stunning response. A 4-0 demolition of Copenhagen in the Champions League. Even with Johnson sent off, Micky van de Ven’s sensational solo goal and João Palhinha’s late strike sealed a dominant win. Frank hopes that the performance marks a turning point as fans demand consistency.   Manchester United, however, will sense an opportunity. Spurs’ inconsistency and poor home record could open the door for Amorim’s men to grab a crucial away win — especially with their newfound confidence and improved attacking rhythm. Will Manchester United show a sign of consistency by going to the home of the team that they lost a European Final to and grab a win, or will Spurs show their own consistency in the league and have a better game than the Red Devils? Comment below with your score predictions!   Manchester United record against Spurs: Games won: 96 Games drawn: 51 Games lost: 58     Team News: (As of today, 07/11/2025) Tottenham Hotspur:   James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Radu Dragusin, Dominic Solanke, Yves Bissouma, Ben Davies, Kota Takai, and Archie Gray are unavailable Manchester United: Lisandro Martinez is still not fully fit.   Prediction: United’s confidence is building, and Spurs’ home inconsistency could be the perfect opening. Expect Amorim’s men to grind out a narrow but vital victory in North London. Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Manchester United.