Manchester United host bottom-of-the-table West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, looking to build on their victory over rivals and league-leaders Manchester City last time out. United arguably produced one of their most satisfying performances in the Jose Mourinho era last weekend, despite being 2-0 down to City at half time.
Mourinho implored his team not to look like “clowns” in the second half and his motivational team talk certainly paid off, as a brace from Paul Pogba and one from Chris Smalling saw them ruin City’s title-winning party at the Etihad. They haven’t played since, but they sit in second place in the Premier League, four points ahead of Liverpool with a game in hand. Next week sees them take on Tottenham in an FA Cup semi-final, which remains their only realistic chance of winning a trophy this season.
On the other hand, West Brom are rooted to the bottom of the table, with five defeats in their last six games and a draw at home to Swansea last time out. They’re 10 points from safety and they’re going to have to perform a miracle if they stand any chance of surviving the drop this season. Darren Moore has taken charge since Alan Pardew left the club and despite not getting a win last week, he’s at least ended a string of poor results. Despite that, the Baggies have won just three games in the Premier League all season, but none since 13th January.
Manchester United vs. West Brom Predictions
Jose Mourinho and his team made a statement last week with a hard-fought recovery against City, but there’s a different aim in this match. He’ll be looking to build momentum for next season and this is the perfect opportunity for the side to attack, score some goals and look like a United side in the Ferguson era. United will win this game, but expect them to score some goals in the process. They’re also likely to keep a clean sheet.
Manchester United vs. West Brom Betting Tips
Head to Head
- After winning 85% of their opening 13 Premier League games against West Brom (W11 D2 L0), Manchester United have won just 40% of their last 10 against them (W4 D3 L3).
- The Baggies have lost just one of their last four Premier League visits to Old Trafford (W2 D1), losing 0-2 in November 2015.
- Only one side starting the day bottom of the table has ever won a Premier League game at Old Trafford, Blackburn Rovers winning 3-2 in December 2011. Manchester United have won 16 and drawn four of the other 20 games.
- The Red Devils are looking to secure six consecutive Premier League wins for the first time since January 2017.
- Manchester United have kept a league-high 16 clean sheets this season, with 11 of those coming at Old Trafford, also the most in the league.
- West Brom are winless in their last 15 Premier League away games, losing 11 and drawing four. Indeed, only in 2008/09 have the Baggies endured a longer away winless run in a single Premier League season (16 games).
- No side has won more Premier League games that they were losing than Manchester United this season (4, level with Arsenal and Bournemouth), with Jose Mourinho’s side winning 33% of the games in which they’ve been behind (4/12).
- West Brom have scored just 26 Premier League goals this season, the same total Man Utd registered in the first half alone.
- Alexis Sanchez has had a hand in four goals in his last two Premier League games (1 goal, 3 assists), as many as in his previous 12 in the competition for Arsenal and Man Utd combined (4 goals).
- Salomon Rondon has scored in six different Premier League games this season, failing to win any of them (D2 L4). The most different games scored in by a player in a single Premier League campaign, without winning a single one is seven (Jordan Ayew in 2015/16).
Manchester United Team News
Phil Jones is a slight doubt ahead of Sunday’s game and might not be risked by Jose Mourinho. Daley Blind definitely misses out and won’t feature again for United this season. He’s also rumoured to be leaving Old Trafford this summer, meaning he might have played his last game for the Red Devils.
West Brom Team News
Nacer Chadli and Sam Field both return for West Brom as caretaker boss Darren Moore looks to cause an upset away from home.