Mark Lawrenson is backing Manchester United to beat West Ham United this afternoon.
Mark Lawrenson
Pundit Mark Lawrenson has told BBC Sport that he thinks Manchester United will beat West Ham United 2-1 at Old Trafford this afternoon.
Manchester United head into the game having thrashed Dutch side Feyenoord 4-0 in the Europa League on Thursday evening, but their Premier League forum hasn’t been quite so resounding.
The Red Devils have won just one of their last six Premier League games, and whilst there has been just one defeat in that run, United need to start picking up results at home having thrown away a 1-0 lead to draw 1-1 with Arsenal last weekend.
Today’s visitors are West Ham United, whose own form has been terrible to start to the season, After 12 games, the Hammers have just 11 points to their name, and Slaven Bilic needs results to ease some of the pressure on him.
West Ham have picked up just one point in their last three games, and after squandering a 2-1 lead to eventually lose 3-2 at London rivals Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, Bilic will be desperate to pick up a positive result at Old Trafford.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho waves to the fans
Ahead of this afternoon’s game, pundit Mark Lawrenson has offered his prediction to BBC Sport, backing Manchester United to win the game 2-1.
Lawrenson believes the biggest change in West Ham this season is that they simply aren’t as good defensively, as only three teams have conceded more Premier League goals than the Hammers this term.
The ex-Liverpool defender added that United have issues as well, and whilst he finds the situation surrounding Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s contract ‘odd’, he thinks they will run out winners today.
West Ham players look dejected
“West Ham caved in late on at White Hart Lane last weekend, and they are just not as good defensively as they were last season,” said Lawrenson. “Manchester United have issues too, especially in attack, but although they might make hard work of it, I think they will find a way through.”
“There continues to be off-field distractions at Old Trafford – like the talk about Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s contract for example – and some of what Jose Mourinho is saying about the whole situation strikes me as odd. I think, ultimately, he is doing it because he does not think United will make the top four. I do think they will win on Sunday, though,” he added.
What’s your prediction for Manchester United v West Ham?
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