West Ham host Manchester United on Super Sunday looking to revive their stuttering drive for a top-four finish.
Just a point and a place separated the two sides before the Christmas interval as the Hammers went five games unbeaten in the league to strengthen their Champions League credentials.
But Sam Allardyce's side have faltered of late, picking up just five points from their last six league outings and now sit in eighth position, seven points adrift of Sunday's opponents.
United, who have lost just one game in 16, travel to east London having booked their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup with a 3-0 win over Cambridge United on Tuesday.
Louis van Gaal's side have lost just one of their last 20 trips to the capital, a run the club will be keen to extend as they look to pull away from the sides jostling for European football.
Team news
West Ham are facing a defensive injury crisis ahead of the game, with Allardyce likely to have just one fit centre-back as both Winston Reid and James Collins are ruled out with hamstring injuries.
Cheikhou Kouyate could be called upon to provide defensive cover having recovered from an ankle problem.
Andy Carroll picked up an ankle injury in the defeat at Liverpool and may not be risked whilst Diego Poyet and Doneil Henry are also missing with unspecified knocks.
United will be missing midfielder Michael Carrick with a calf strain, but that is their own injury worry, with both Radamel Falcao and Ashley Young back in contention.
Opta stats
The Hammers have scored the most headed goals in the Premier League this season (14).
Manchester United have won 11 and lost none of their last 12 Premier League matches against West Ham.
Wayne Rooney has scored 10 goals in his last nine Premier League games against West Ham.
Robin van Persie has scored in each of his last five Premier League games against the Hammers, netting a total of six goals in that run.
Manchester United are unbeaten in their last six Premier league away games (W3 D3).
Sam Allardyce’s side have lost just one of their last 10 Premier League games at the Boleyn Ground (W7 D2 L1).
Merson's prediction
Home win. I'm not convinced by Man United, I don’t think they're playing well enough, and sooner or later they'll lose again. They beat Leicester last week, had three shots and scored three goals, but I just wouldn't be shocked if West Ham won. Would you? It's a hard place to go. Even though the Hammers were poor at Liverpool last week, I think they have got a really good chance of winning this game.
Van Gaal is a good talker, that's why he's not getting a hard time, and to be fair they're in the top four. That's what they were looking for this season, a bit of stability - but this game is not a foregone conclusion.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Betting
United are marginally odds-on at [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] to see off West Ham on Super Sunday, with the Hammers up against odds of [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] to win and [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] to secure a draw.
Van Persie heads the first goalscorer market at [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.], but is closely followed by Falcao ([You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]) and Rooney ([You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]), while Carroll and Diafra Sahko are considered the biggest threats from Allardyce’s side at [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]apiece.
Jamie Redknapp is backing Carroll to break the deadlock in his Red Hot Tips and is expecting a close encounter at Upton Park, going for a 1-1 draw at 11/2.
Last edited by Admin on Sat 07 Feb 2015, 1:40 pm; edited 1 time in total