By CandH’s top blogger Allen Cummings

West Ham could find themselves in third place in the Premier League if we can beat Manchester United at the London Stadium in our Saturday tea time kick off.

With Leicester not playing until Sunday, and Chelsea kicking off against Leeds at 8pm, for a few hours at least victory will see us in the top three.

It’s a mouth-watering incentive for David Moyes’ team, currently enjoying our best start to a season for five years. Three successive victories – against Fulham, Sheffield United and Aston Villa have sent us soaring up the table, now the challenge is to keep the run going against a United side whose form on the road has been outstanding.

While the Theatre of Dreams has turned into a nightmare for the Reds, with three defeats and only one victory in five games at home – away from Old Trafford Ollie Gunnar Solskjaer’s men have been in formidable form. Their victory at Southampton last weekend was their eighth in succession in the league, a new club record.

Moyes will know the performance against Villa lacked the confidence and composure we’ve so enjoyed watching this season.

He openly admitted he wasn’t happy with what he saw in an attacking sense, but he would have been quietly satisfied by the way his team dug in under pressure to grind out the eventual result and the points to go with it.

The questions being asked now is will he continue with Sebastien Haller and Said Benrahma in the 4-4-2 formation he finished the game with against Villa? Or will he revert to playing Michail Antonio up front again in that lone striker role?

It was clear Micky was off the pace and playing within himself in that first 45 minutes. But with extra days under his belt back on the training pitch, will Moyes feel his number one striker will be back closer to his best?

United are bound to have one eye on continuing their involvement in Europe. Defeat by Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday means their place in Europe is hanging in the balance. They will need to get something from their game against RB Leipzig next Wednesday to progress. It could be a distraction from which we can benefit.

Moyes will send out his team to press United and test their resolve to the full. Games against the Manchester outfit always have a special edge to them.

In normal circumstances the London Stadium would have been rocking on Saturday. With just 2000 supporters present that’s hardly likely to be the case.

But those lucky ones inside the ground are sure to give a good account of themselves – let’s hope those on the pitch give them – and us watching at home – something to cheer about!