West Ham vs Manchester United preview, prediction, team news and head-to-head

• Both teams to score

• Over 2.5 goals

• Manchester United to win

Michael Carrick will hope to maintain the giddy atmosphere at Old Trafford and bring home another three points for a resurgent Manchester United on Tuesday to maintain the 100% start to his currently-incumbent role.

Victories against Manchester City, Arsenal and Fulham preceded Saturday’s home 2-0 victory over 10-man Spurs, who were undone by goals in either half from Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes. This followed a 29th-minute red card shown to visiting captain Cristian Romero.

Not only are United still ahead of Chelsea and Liverpool in the race for fourth, they have cut the gap to third-placed Aston Villa to just three points and are firmly in control of the race for Champions League football. All buoyed by Bruno Fernandes.

Now sitting on 200 goal involvements for the 20-time English champions, Bruno Fernandes is on the verge of making more history. The Portugal international has set up eight Premier League goals away from home this season and needs just one more to break the Man Utd record for a single campaign, currently sitting level with Ryan Giggs's octet from 2001-02.

West Ham are also turning their fortunes around at the same time as their upcoming visitors. The Hammers have safety in their sights after taking nine points from the last 12 on offer, most recently boosting their survival prospects at the expense of Burnley's. 

Since scoring his first goal for West Ham against Tottenham Hotspur, Crysencio Summerville has found the back of the net four league matches in a row to help the Hammers to four wins from their last five games. This is more than they managed in their first 22 matches of the campaign, but exploits at home have left a lot to be desired.

West Ham have only won one of their last 16 Premier League home matches against teams to have played in the top flight the previous season. On the flip side, though, Manchester United have lost on all their last three visits to the London Stadium.

West Ham beat Manchester United home and away last season. They also earned a 1-1 draw against United at Old Trafford in December. The Hammers dominate the recent head-to-heads with four wins, one draw and one defeat from the last six games between these teams. 

Manchester United haven't won at West Ham's London Stadium since September 2021. Only three of the players from that team are still at the club: captain Bruno Fernandes and defenders Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw. All three will be crucial to Manchester United's chances of success on Tuesday.

Manchester United's fitness situation remains unchanged after Saturday's win, with Patrick Dorgu (thigh), Mason Mount (unspecified) and Matthijs de Ligt (back) all still out for the Red Devils.

This could see Carrick name an unchanged team for the third game in a row, with Bruno Fernandes operating behind a front three of Amad Diallo, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.

West Ham have virtually a clean bill of health, with the exception of two senior players. Jean-Clear Todibo continues to serve his suspension after his red card against Chelsea, and Lukasz Fabianski remains sidelined with a lower back injury and no return date has been set.

West Ham: Hermansen; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Disasi, Diouf; Soucek, Potts; Bowen, M. Fernandes, Summerville; Castellanos

Manchester United: Lammens; Dalot, Martinez, Maguire, Shaw; Mainoo, Casemiro; Diallo, B. Fernandes, Mbeumo; Cunha

West Ham, despite their position in the table, played very well for an hour against Chelsea and they have a player in Crysencio Summerville who can pose problems for the Red Devils. Playing away at the London Stadium has also been one of Man Utd fans' most feared fixtures in recent seasons.

However, Carrick's men are currently playing with no fear, evidenced by their intricate, one-touch combinations in the forward areas. They will not have it easy, but their stellar offensive record and Fernandes factor should carry them to a fifth consecutive win.

Correct score prediction: West Ham 1-2 Manchester United