Man Utd v West Ham: Key stats and talking points

Key Highlights

• The Red Devils have lost nine of their past 14 Premier League games in the month of December - including the past three in a row without scoring. A 3-0 loss at home to Bournemouth was followed up by a toothless showing at Molineux against Wolves, before United finished 2024 with a 2-0 loss to Newcastle at Old Trafford. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementJoshua Zirkzee was substituted and booed off the pitch after just 32 minutes in the latter.
• Fast forward 12 months and he is back in the side, scoring the equaliser last time out against Palace - his first Premier League goal in 364 days. Irons optimismAlthough Manchester United have proved to be a difficult opponent for West Ham historically, there are reasons for Nuno Espirito Santo to be optimistic.
• The Hammers have beaten Manchester United in four out of their past five Premier League meetings, including a 2-0 win in this fixture last season. That result ended a 16-game winless run away to Manchester United in the Premier League.
• On Thursday, the visitors could earn consecutive league victories at Old Trafford for the first time since 1934.[BBC]Captain Jarrod Bowen was on the scoresheet in three of those five games, including in both meetings between the sides last season.
• The player who most recently scored in three in a row against Manchester United for the Hammers was Jermain Defoe between 2001 and 2002.