Match Preview: West Brom vs Manchester United

West Brom vs Manchester United | Premier League | The Hawthorns | KO 14:00 GMT | Sky Sports

Following a dull 5th round FA Cup extra-time win vs West Ham, Manchester United return to league football to take on West Brom.

United will make the trip to the midlands in the hope of getting back to winning ways. Last weekend’s 3-3 draw against Everton definitely added a couple of nails in the coffin of United’s title race. However, it’s never over till it’s over, and that’s the mentality Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men must keep going forward.

How do Manchester United Look?

Additional to United’s regular absentee Phil Jones, Solskjaer won’t be able to call on the services of Paul Pogba once again. The Frenchman was withdrawn early on in the Everton clash and is set to miss “a few weeks” said Solskjaer.

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The Norweigian did, however, provide a boost for United fans as Eric Bailly is back on the grass training. Solskjaer told MUTV: “Eric is available. He has trained for a couple of days so he’ll be available for selection. So that’s a positive.”

Bailly’s return to the team, however tentative, is one that is very much welcomed with the competence of United’s current pairing being questioned once again. Both Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof’s performances against the toffees were ones to forget.

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David de Gea will likely return between the sticks after the ascribed cup keeper Dean Henderson took to the net in midweek. De Gea is another one under intense scrutiny after his mistake led to Everton’s first goal.

Opposition: West Brom

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The Baggies have made a managerial change since United last played them in November. Slaven Bilic’s West Brom were beaten by a single Bruno Fernandes penalty on that day. Now managed by relegation avoiding specialist Sam Allardyce, fortunes haven’t really turned at the Hawthorns.

Big Sam’s side have only picked up four points since an impressive performance at Anfield earned them a draw. In that 8 game period, West Brom have shipped 24 goals meaning relegation beckons.

Allardyce told the press that tricky forward Grady Diangana is a doubt for United’s visit with the winger only recently returning to training.

Key Stats

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West Brom have lost nine of their 12 home Premier League games against Manchester United conceding two in 11 of those games.

United have failed to do the double over the Baggies with the 11/12 season being the last time the Red’s achieved this feat.

Under Solskjaer United have lost more against sides in the relegation zone than sides in the top 4.

The Red Devils are still unbeaten away from home since January of 2020.

Prediction

United have to win. The Red’s simply cannot afford to keep dropping silly points. Manchester City don’t look like relenting their title charge but with one win in four, United are not secure in second either.

West Brom 0-3 Manchestert United