Manchester United will head to the Hawthorns on Sunday afternoon to take on second from bottom West Brom. We are currently sitting third in the Premier League table after 23 games, which has probably surpassed people’s expectations. Our inconsistent form at the start of the season had suggested we would have struggled to reach the top four.
We come into Sunday’s fixture after coming through our midweek FA Cup fixture with a 1-0 victory against West Ham. It was not the most exciting game to watch as United had needed extra time to overcome the Hammers, thanks to a Scott McTominay goal. Previous to this, we had been in two high scoring games with a 9-0 win against Southampton, followed by a 3-3 draw against Everton.
United are eight points behind league leaders Manchester City. For us to catch them and reignite our belief about being title contenders, tomorrow’s game will be important against the Baggies. With Leicester City’s win over fourth-placed Liverpool on Saturday, we have dropped to third. So it gives us the opportunity to extend our lead over the Merseysiders and also regained second place again.
The Red Devils will go into the game against West Brom as firm favourites for the win. We have only lost one of the last 17 league games and our form away from home has been excellent. No other team in the league has picked up more points than United on the road. We have yet to lose an away game in the league this season.
Our unbeaten away form now stretches to over a year as we have not lost in 18 games, which is a club record. This form may be tested in the upcoming weeks as we have games away to both Chelsea and Manchester City. After facing West Brom on Sunday, United will return Europa League action against Real Sociedad in the last 32. In between the European ties, we have a league game at home to Newcastle United.
Opposition Preview
The appointment of Sam Allardyce as West Brom manager has yet to see a turnaround in their fortunes. They have only picked up one point out of their last five games and were beaten by Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 last weekend in the league. The Baggies have only won once in the last 13 league games which have seen them struggle to get out of the relegation zone.
The picture is much bleaker when you look at their home form as it is one of the worst in the league. West Brom has won one of their last eleven home games and gain 6 points from a possible 33 on offer.
In their last six home games, they have only taken one point. They have failed to score in four of those games. Defensively, they have conceded 24 goals in these six games which does not make good reading. 31 of the 54 goals conceded this season have been at the Hawthorns. This is the most by any team in the top flight since Chelsea back in the 1960-61 season.
West Brom vs Manchester United Match Details
Teams: West Brom vs Manchester United
Date: February 14th, 2020 (Sunday)
KO Time: 14:00 GMT
Competition: Premier League
Stadium: The Hawthorns
Referee: Craig Pawson
Managers: Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Sam Allardyce
Manchester United Team News
United will be without midfielder Paul Pogba, who is set to be out for a few weeks. Eric Bailly could feature against West Brom having missed out on the last six games. Ole will have to make the decision as to whether to stick with Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof in the centre of the defence.
Bruno Fernandes, Luke Shaw, and David de Gea are expected to return to the starting eleven against the Baggies. Whilst Marcus Rashford who scored six goals and has five assists away from home should retain his place.
Edinson Cavani is likely to lead the forward line again as he looks to score in his third consecutive league game. Match winner Scott McTominay who scored his seventh goal of the campaign during the FA Cup tie against West Ham, will be hoping to be in the starting eleven.
West Brom vs Manchester United Pre-Match Press Conference
During the pre-match press conference, Ole was asked about the shape that the squad after Tuesday’s FA Cup against West Ham. He said, “Well, we’ve had a rare opportunity to do a bit of training and actually some recovery. You’ve got Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and not a game until Sunday, that has been a rarity for us really. Paul [Pogba] is still out. Eric [Bailly] has been training, so that’s a boost to us.”
A member of the media asked Ole how important is it to get that momentum again after a few indifferent results recently. He said, “Of course it’s an important game for us, this weekend. It’s an important spell. Every game, you tick one off and are there less possibilities to make up the points to the teams in front of you. That’s what we want to do; that’s what we’re here to do and Sunday’s a big one for us in that respect, to get back to winning ways. The two points dropped against Everton were disappointing when it’s the last kick off the ball. But we bounced back well in the Cup against West Ham; we’re through and we’re into the quarters. That was a good step in the right direction and another clean sheet.”
West Brom Team News
For our opponents, the only injury concern they have is with Grady Diangana. He is back in training at the moment but this game has come too soon. New signing Okay Yokuslu may be given his first start on Sunday after coming off the bench last weekend along with fellow signing Ainsley Maitland-Niles. The main source of attacking threat will come from Matheus Pereira as he has netted five of the last 10 goals scored by the Baggies.
Form Guide
Manchester United Premier League form: DWLDWD
Manchester United form (all competitions): WLDWDW
West Bromwich Albion Premier League form: WLLDLL
Interesting Facts
- United have won nine of the 12 Premier League games at The Hawthorns, drawing two and losing only once.
- Manchester United are looking to record a Premier League double over West Brom for the first time since the 2011-12 season under Sir Alex Ferguson.
- Manchester United are currently unbeaten in 18 Premier League away games (W13 D5), their longest such run on the road in top-flight history.
- Edinson Cavani is looking to score in three consecutive league games for the first time since January 2019 with Paris Saint-Germain.
- 75% of Marcus Rashford’s Premier League goals for United this season have come away from home (6/8). (Stats courtesy of Opta)
- The last time Manchester United faced West Brom was a 0-1 loss at Old Trafford that gave Manchester City the title in 2018.
- Only Bruno Fernandes (1), Juan Mata (1) and Phil Jones (1) have scored past West Brom of the current United squad.
West Brom vs Manchester United Predicted Lineup
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Fred, McTominay; Greenwood, Fernandes, Rashford; Cavani
Prediction
On paper, everything seems to point towards a victory for United. We currently have the best attack going up against the worst defence in the league. West Brom has conceded 54 so far this season and our attacking players will be salivating at the prospect of scoring at least a few goals at the Hawthorns.
United have not been able to blow those struggling teams away from Old Trafford, despite our good record on the road. The Baggies have lost a number of games recently with many goals being conceded. The attacking threat we pose should see claim a Premier League double over West Brom for the first time since the 2011-12 season.
Predicted Score
West Brom 0-4 Manchester United
