ENGLISH PREMIER BETTING PREVIEW - MANCHESTER UNITED VS WEST HAM UNITED

English Premier

2025-12-04 - Manchester United vs West Ham United

A Sports Betting Preview by Auls

Manchester United v West Ham United
Football: English Premier League
Thursday 4th December 2025 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV

---

Manchester United

The expectation that most Manchester United fans would have had in terms of points to achieve from fixtures against Everton and Crystal Palace would likely have been three or four, although the majority would have picked beating Everton and losing at Selhurst Park. Instead the three points have been earned the other way around Manchester United have an opportunity to really get going again with the way the next set of fixtures are looking.

Three points secured in a come from behind win over Crystal Palace has pushed Manchester United back up into 7th place in the Premier League table and they once again will try and take aim to move into the Champions League places. That will mean getting back to winning ways at Old Trafford where the side have a 4-0-2 record in the top flight this season.

Manchester United had not won any of 3 Premier League games and were very much second best when trailing 1-0 at Crystal Palace on Sunday. The second half fightback will have earned some respect and given the squad a boost. Manchester United had won 4 in a row at Old Trafford before the really poor 0-1 defeat to ten man Everton in the last fixture played in front of the home fans.

Matheus Cunha is hoping to be available for selection this week, although may have to settle for a place on the bench after both Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount scored at Selhurst Park. Benjamin Sesko is hoping to be available on Monday, while Harry Maguire may have to wait a little bit longer.

West Ham United

They are just moving through a challenging fixture list, but Nuno Espirito Santo has to be mainly pleased with the way his West Ham United team are playing and picking up key results. Unfortunately for the manager, the team were not really at their best in the 0-2 home defeat to Liverpool on Sunday, but that means Espirito Santo will be looking for a big reaction from his group.

Losses for teams all around them means West Ham United have ticked off another fixture and remain in 17th place in the Premier League table and outside of the bottom three on goal difference. The standings could look very different at kick off with The Hammers playing in the last fixture of this round of games and West Ham United will be travelling to the North West with a 1-2-3 away record.

West Ham United had been unbeaten in 3 Premier League games and only failed to have a three game winning run because they could not hold onto a 0-2 lead at Bournemouth in the eventual 2-2 draw. That run was ended on Sunday at the London Stadium, and West Ham United have failed to win any of the last 4 away Premier League games too.

Lucas Paqueta was heavily criticised for his actions that resulted in another red card on Sunday and another suspension begins. Crysencio Summerville is hoping to be fit enough to travel with the squad.

Head to Head

West Ham United did the Premier League double over Manchester United last season, including beating them in Erik ten Hag's final game in charge.

They had lost 4 in a row at Old Trafford, but West Ham United won 0-2 here in May against a side being distracted by Europa League commitments.

Prediction

Both Manchester United and West Ham United have been in relatively good form of late, but the two teams head into this fixture behind very different results in London on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, Manchester United had come from behind to beat Crystal Palace before West Ham United kicked off and were eventually beaten handily by a struggling Liverpool team.

Nuno Espirito Santo will have been disappointed with the overall performance and in Lucas Paqueta for being needlessly sent off, but he will have seen enough from his West Ham United players over the last month to expect a positive reaction.

The new manager is still trying to get his methods instilled, but the character of the squad will have encouraged him.

We know Nuno Espirito Santo will want his teams to be tough to beat and look to counter and that will be the approach West Ham United will try and take at Old Trafford. However, the last couple of Premier League fixtures has seen West Ham United give up some quality chances and they could find it tough to contain a Manchester United team that will be bouncing after winning at Selhurst Park.

Overall the performance was not the best, but wins breed confidence and Manchester United will have been very pleased to bounce back from a very disappointing 0-1 defeat to Everton. They could have Matheus Cunha back in the match day squad, while goals for Mason Mount and Joshua Zirkzee will have done those players the world of good.

Prior to the defeat to Everton, Manchester United had won 4 in a row at Old Trafford and looked pretty good in doing so.

There are still some issues to address defensively, but the attacking players have been more comfortable at Old Trafford than even a few months ago. You have to consider the Everton performance a blip and Manchester United should respond to that with a much more convincing effort at home.

However, it has to be said that it is hard to trust Manchester United to cover the Asian Handicap line considering how vulnerable they have been at the back. 2 of the 4 home wins have been by at least two goal margins, but in one of those Manchester United needed a late strike to secure the points and so it may be better to side with one of the summer signings to continue to lead the way.

Bryan Mbeumo has not scored in the last couple of games, but he has three at Old Trafford this season and continues to find enough space to have shots on target. He has managed that in the last couple of fixtures to continue a positive run and you have to believe that the forward will be able to find spaces to add to that run here.

Adding him to have one shot on target in a Manchester United win returns an odds against quote and that looks the best play here.

The Pick :

Manchester United 3-1 West Ham United

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Manchester United to Win & Bryan Mbeumo Over 0.5 Shots on Target (Bet Builder) at 2.05 with Bet365 (early payout if a team is leading by two goals AND Sub Play On)