West Ham return to the “big game situation” tomorrow and most certainly owe Manchester United one after the London Stadium defeat which saw Mark Noble miss a late pen.

But after winning at Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup they are now setting their sights on revenge in the Premier League and extend their position over the Red Devils in the top four stakes.

David Moyes has indicated that Tomas Soucek could be back after covid and the squad has had a week off games  which has done us a lot of good so we go to the north west with confidence.

And pundit Paul Merson who can’t bring himself to tip a United win in their present shape.

For this is a team which has more than it’s share of problems after a season when they have sacked one manager and seen another struggle in the light of a certain Cristiano Ronaldo. He predicts a 1-1 draw while previewing the game in his Sportskeeda column.

He said:  “I can’t have Manchester United at the moment. Their Premier League win against Brentford yesterday papers over the cracks.

“Little Brentford gave them a footballing lesson in the first half, and United needed David de Gea to bail them out yet again.

“It’s happening too many times – they conceded the lead against Newcastle, and they had to hang on for a draw against Aston Villa.

“West Ham are not particularly consistent either – just when you think they’re back, they go and lose to Leeds at home. I just can’t bring myself to predict a Manchester United win at the moment, however, and I think West Ham will cause them some problems in the final third.”

United have won only  two of their last five league games, and we take the Irons to win.