Abhranil Roy
Manchester United vs West Brom Preview
West Brom have lost just one of their last 5 meetings against Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United, and on Saturday, they will be looking to emulate Manchester City to become only the second team in Premier League history to win at Old Trafford in 3 successive seasons, having won there 1-0 last season thanks to a deflected shot from Jonas Olsson and also secured a 2-1 win there in the 2013/14 season.
Although the Baggies are excellent travellers, having won 5 and lost just 2 of their last 9 away games(including a few from last season), yet they will start as underdogs to a United side who have a formidable record at home, as the defeat by West Brom in May is United’s only loss in their last 13 BPL matches at Old Trafford (W9 D3).
STAT ATTACK:
United have the league’s joint-best defence, conceding just eight goals and a BPL-high seven clean sheets, has laid the foundations for United’s strong start to the campaign.
Goals have been hard to come by for United in recent weeks, with two goalless draws, but facing West Brom is a good omen for Wayne Rooney. The United captain has seven goals and four assists in his last seven top-flight starts against the Baggies.
TEAM NEWS:
Luke Shaw still remains out, but one can expect to see Ashley Young, Memphis Depay and Phil Jones back in the squad, in all probability. However, Jesse Lingard’s excellent form of late means that either Juan Mata or Ander Herrera will have to be benched, and it will be interesting to see how the Dutchman sets his team up.
PREDICTED LINEUPS:
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): de Gea; Rojo, Blind, Smalling, Darmian; Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger; Lingard, Rooney, Herrera; Martial
PREDICTION:
United will be buoyed by their crucial win against CSKA Moscow midweek, with their captain Wayne Rooney finally being back in the goals again. We hope United can put 2-3 past 12th placed West Brom, but above all put in a performance that is pleasing to the eyes.
