Manchester United will bid to protect a six-match unbeaten run when Louis van Gaal's troops welcome out-of-form West Ham United to Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.
The Red Devils look far from the peak of their powers themselves, but victory could see them move top of the Premier League table depending on results elsewhere.
Manchester United
© Getty Images
Van Gaal is hardly flavour of the month among former Manchester United greats for the style that he has employed this season.
Paul Scholes, Lee Sharpe and Paul Parker have all criticised the Dutchman for his perceived dull tactics, but with the Red Devils third in the Premier League, one point behind leaders Manchester City, few can argue that Van Gaal's approach is not effective.
United have shipped the fewest goals this season, having conceded 10 times in 14 games, but it is a lack of action at the other end which has given rise to suggestions that the 20-time English champions could be doing more.
With four Premier League goals, playmaker Juan Mata is their leading scorer in a season which has seen Wayne Rooney struggle in front of goal and £25m winger Memphis Depay fail to hit the heights expected of him. Even Anthony Martial has slowed down in the goalscoring stakes. Yet, Van Gaal's side still boast serious title credentials.
That 3-0 defeat at Arsenal on October 4 appears to have done them the world of good. They conceded three times in the first 20 minutes at the Emirates - a crude wake-up call and United have not lost since.
They have won three and drawn three of the six subsequent league outings, with a 1-1 draw at co-leaders Leicester City last week denying them a third straight win following narrow victories over West Bromwich Albion and Watford.
It is anything but stylish, but if these gritty performances prove to be the foundations of a title-winning season then few will be complaining come May - not even Scholes.
Recent form: WDDWWD
Recent form (all competitions): DWWWDD
West Ham
© Getty Images
Leaving their recent form aside, West Ham's giant-killing away displays have proved one of the stories of the season so far - and Saturday presents the opportunity to complete a rare top-flight Grandslam.
Having already beaten Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea, Slaven Bilic's side head to Old Trafford knowing that victory would see them become just the third team in the Premier League era to beat the division's big five in a single campaign.
Aston Villa managed it in 1992-93 and Leeds United managed it in 1994-95, but something extra special is needed if the Hammers are to write their names into the history books.
After winning two points from a possible 12 in recent weeks, there has been nothing exceptional about a West Ham side who look to have been exposed without the creativity of Dimitri Payet, who remains sidelined until February.
Prior to his injury, the Frenchman, a £10m summer signing from Marseille, had been involved in 35% of their Premier League goals. Not only that, but Payet was exceptional in their barnstorming start to the season and it is obvious that his absence has taken its toll.
In West Ham's first game without him, Tottenham Hotspur romped to a 4-1 victory at White Hart Lane on November 22, before West Bromwich Albion earned a 1-1 draw at Upton Park last week. In both performances, Payet's absence was glaring.
They have cried out for a hero, but few have stepped up to the plate. Consequently, it is difficult to see where their spark will come from at the Theatre of Dreams. They sit eighth in the table, five points adrift of the top four and 10 clear of safety. The worry for Bilic will be whether his troops have anything tangible to play for by the time Payet returns.
Recent form: WWLDLD
Team News
© Getty Images
Captain Rooney will miss the visit of West Ham due to an ankle injury, while defender Marcos Rojo is sidelined with a dislocated shoulder.
Ander Herrera and Phil Jones are still unavailable, but there is some promising news in the form of winger Jesse Lingard, who could return following a hamstring injury.
With go-to guy Payet already sidelined, Bilic has been further rocked by the news that Diafra Sakho is expected to miss up to three months with a thigh injury.
Andy Carroll, who has netted once in eight league outings, is expected to spearhead the Irons' forward line once more.
Meanwhile, Mark Noble and James Collins are eligible to return after serving out one-game bans in the draw with West Brom.
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Darmian, McNair, Smalling, Blind; Carrick, Schweinsteiger, Mata, Young; Depay, Martial
West Ham possible starting lineup:
Adrian, Jenkinson, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Obiang, Kouyate, Noble, Lanzini, Moses, Carroll
Head To Head
It has been well over eight years since West Ham last won at Old Trafford, with Carlos Tevez securing a 1-0 win which ultimately kept them in the Premier League on the final day of the 2006-07 season. Since then, the Irons have won just two of the 17 meetings in all competitions, with the Red Devils winning six of the last nine clashes.
We say: Manchester United 3-1 West Ham
West Ham certainly have the pedigree to pull of an upset at Old Trafford, having beaten Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City away from home this season, but this is different. This time, they must do so without the creative talents of Payet and, frankly, they look a different side without the Frenchman. Bilic's troops have shown worrying signs of regression without Payet, and we reckon that Saturday will throw up further symptoms of decline.
Shane Callaghan
