West Ham United entertain Manchester United tonight in something of a Premier League dead rubber.
West Ham secured safety with two games to go when they beat Leicester City 2-0 at the King Power Stadium last time out.
Goals from Joao Mario and Mark Noble were enough to keep the club in the Premier League following the dramatic draw between Everton and Southampton later that evening.
Survival does not mask what has been another torrid season for the Hammers on and off the pitch and supporters want big changes from unpopular co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold.
The first thing the owners must address is the future of David Moyes with supporters divided over whether he should be handed a new deal this summer.
They must then put the right people in place to seriously tend to an ageing squad lacking depth and quality if they want to avoid another repeat at the London Stadium next season.
Usually when Manchester United come to town there is plenty riding on the result for both teams.
But this time around with the Hammers safe and Jose Mourinho’s side almost assured of second place it is something of a dead rubber.
The meeting of the two clubs evokes memories of comments the Portuguese made about West Ham before the start of the season.
The Hammers have made sure Mourinho has been left with egg on his face after he had suggested the East Londoners were building a strong outfit capable of challenging for honours.
In a prediction which seems laughable now, Mourinho backed the Hammers to challenge for the Premier League title back in July, as reported by the likes of the Evening Standard at the time.
“We need a bit more when you see the other teams in the Premier League, like Man City, Liverpool and West Ham, the way they get players, good players, important players.
“The champions have bought three fantastic experienced players. I am thinking about West Ham for the first match of the Premier League.
“They have got Joe Hart, Chicharito and Arnautovic. It looks like they are playing to win the Premier League too.”
West Ham brought in Pablo Zabaleta, on a free, Joe Hart on loan, striker Javier Hernandez for £16million and sanctioned a club-record £24million move for Marko Arnautovic.
Jordan Hugill, Joao Mario and Patrice Evra were added to the mix in January but the former Chelsea boss clearly overestimated the Hammers.
Indeed he appears to have a kiss of death when it comes to dishing out compliments after he interrupted Swansea boss Carlos Carvahal’s press conference after the two sides met to exclaim his compatriot would keep the Welsh outfit up and be named manager of the year.
Carvahal has not won a game since and the Swans look likely to be relegated.
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