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Anthony Martial and Winston Reid. Dave Thompson
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Manchester United v West Ham, Premier League

The Hammers were hoping to add Old Trafford to the list of grounds they’ve claimed victories at this season.

Good afternoon. Storm Desmond may be wreaking havoc to sporting events around the country, but, thankfully, England’s top flight hasn’t been affected.

Stoke City are currently giving a masterclass at home to Manchester City at the Britannia Stadium, where they lead 2-0 with 15 minutes remaining, and we’ve got six 3pm kick-offs before Chelsea meet Bournemouth in the late game.

Our focus will be on Old Trafford as Manchester United host West Ham. The game is 45 minutes away and we’ll have team news shortly.

Here are the starting line-ups:

Manchester United: De Gea, Darmian, McNair, Smalling (c), Blind, Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Mata, Fellaini, Lingard, Martial.

West Ham: Adrian, Tomkins, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Song, Noble (c), Kouyate, Moses, Zarate, Carroll.

With Wayne Rooney and Marcos Rojo out injured, Anthony Martial starts up front on his own with Marouane Fellaini coming into the midfield. Morgan Schneiderlin is in for Michael Carrick too.

The Hammers are without Dmitri Payet, Manuel Lanzini or Diafra Sakho so will play the loan striker role, while Alex Song makes his first start since May.

United, third in the table at present, come into the game on the back of a dull 1-1 draw away to Leicester City last weekend.

Eighth-placed West Ham also drew last time out, 1-1 against West Brom on Sunday, but their away form this season has been excellent.

Slaven Bilic’s side have already claimed wins at the Emirates, Anfield and the Etihad this term.

Manchester United v West Ham United - Barclays Premier League - Old Trafford Oi, you! Fans sit outside Old Trafford in front of a poster of Roy Keane. Dave Thompson Dave Thompson

Predictions time… How do you see this game going?


Poll Results:

Manchester United win (292)
Draw (164)
West Ham win (69)

Team are out and we’re about to get going here…

The home side’s first shot of the day is not a good one. The ball is crossed in from the left from Jess Lingard but it is cleared. Paddy McNair, up from the back, has a swing at it but sends his strike well over.

Fellaini drives forward in possession and, with options wither side, goes it alone. His low shot whistles a few yards past Adrian’s post, however.

Lingard breaks down the left flank and sets up Darmian but his attempted ball to the back post is a poor one as it goes behind for a goal-kick.

Good chance. This time coming from the right side, McNair whips an inviting cross onto the head of Fellaini. The Belgian connects but sends his effort just over the bar.

Oh dear, Victory Moses should be doing better there. The United defence opens up to allow the former Chelsea man clean through but De Gea stands tall to block the shot.

Martial gets the first opportunity to open his legs but Winston Reid ushers the Frenchman away from goal expertly.

More good work from New Zealand international Reid, who blocks Martial’s attempt to concede a corner.

Hammers go close! The Hammers hit the post, not once but twice in as many minutes through Zarate and Reid.

First, De Gead doesn’t collect a cross and Smalling’s clearance comes back off the woodwork via the face of Zarate. Seconds later, Reid’s head strikes the upright.

Lucky boy. Fellaini looks to run the ball out of defence and overhits the ball slightly. He then stamps on James Tomkins and gets a talking to from the referee but escapes a card.

Moses appears to be in a bit of trouble. The winger goes down with an injury before signalling to the bench. It’s the end of his afternoon.

There’s a scramble in the West Ham box as shots from Fellaini and Lingard are blocked by a crowd of bodies.

Next, Schweinsteiger knocks Reid to the ground as they battle for space before free-kick is taken. The set-piece leads to nothing.

5 minutes to half-time.

Half-time: Manchester United 0-0 West Ham 

Manchester United v West Ham United - Barclays Premier League - Old Trafford Fellaini's header is off target. Dave Thompson Dave Thompson

That’s not great at all.

There second half is about to kick off and there’s one change. Uruguayan full-back Guillermo Varela, who had never been in a first team squad at Man United before today, replaces McNair to make his club debut.

Lingard is afforded a few yards of space in the West Ham half and decided to let fly from 30 yards. But it’s far too high to trouble Adrian.

What a chance! Zarate begins a move before getting himself into the box to latch onto Carroll’s neat lay-off. He skews the strike horribly wide, however.

Super save from Adrian! A decent move results in Martial pulling the ball back to Fellaini. He’s just six yards out but sees his shot kept out by the West Ham keeper.

United come close again and it’s Mata who blasts off target after another well-worked attack.

No goals here, but two strikers on the books at United have scored for their loan clubs this afternoon. Javier Hernandez made it 11 goals in ten appearances for Bayer Leverkusen while James Wilson has capped his Brighton debut with a fine individual goal.

Darmian sends a ball across the six-yard box but Martial can’t get there to make a connection. 15 minutes on the clock for one of these clubs to muster up a goal.

Memphis Depay, on as a substitute, does brilliantly to create a chance for Martial but his attempt scrapes the outside of the post.

Carl Jenkinson on for Zarate for the final minutes as Bilic looks to hold on for a point.

Full-time: Manchester United 0-0 West Ham 

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