Manchester United were once again unable to hold on to a lead as they drew 1-1 with relegation-threatened West Ham in a drab Premier League tie at Old Trafford.
Rúben Amorim chose to reinstate Matheus Cunha to the starting XI and hand a surprise start to 19-year-old centre-back Ayden Heaven as Manchester United welcomed West Ham to Old Trafford.
The Premier League tie did not get off to a promising start. The opening 20 minutes saw West Ham with a few corners and United’s forwards making runs, although there was not much to shout about. While United grew in confidence as the tie went on, it was goalless at Old Trafford at the break.
Amorim chose to swap Heaven for Leny Yoro for the second half, and United continued to attack. Just before the hour mark, they finally found their breakthrough after a deflected Casemiro shot landed at Diogo Dalot’s feet, who finished with style next to the penalty spot.
With United still looking disjointed despite their lead, the visitors were able to grab an equalising effort through Soungoutou Magassa with a little under ten minutes to play, leaving the fixture on a knife-edge and giving West Ham a real boost of encouragement.
Despite United trying to find a late winning goal, the Reds fell short, with the Hammers being able to see out a well-earned point on Thursday evening.
#1 – Heaven’s first start of the season
After playing just five Premier League minutes so far this season, Heaven was handed an unexpected start due to the absence of Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire, who would usually start in the middle of the back three.
His opening minutes were a little shaky, with the player picking up a yellow card for a rash challenge, though he seemed to calm down and generally jostled well.
However, with Amorim no doubt wanting a little extra security, considering the yellow the 19-year-old collected, Yoro came on at half-time.
#2 – Another unthreatening first half
United were much more creative than in the first halves of the last two fixtures against Everton and Crystal Palace. Still, compared to other performances this season, the first half was once again largely unthreatening.
The club had five shots in the opening 45 minutes, two of which were on target, but while the side had 65% possession, they did not look much more threatening to West Ham.
Even once United pushed for and got their opening goals, it still felt as if there was a general lack of consistent threat to their chance creation, with too many poor passes and players finding themselves forced out wide
#3 – Zirkzee’s helped the team defend well
Joshua Zirkzee was handed his third start in a row amid Benjamin Šeško’s continued absence due to a knee injury, and the team definitely benefited from his tendency to drop deep.
Zirkzee is known to want to get significantly involved in play and kept the side glued together as best he could, but what was more surprising was how effective he was in his own area.
He was also fantastic at the front post for West Ham’s corners, and it’s not too surprising to see that as soon as he came off, the visitors won a header at the front post from a corner that lead to their goal.
#4 – United’s alarming lack of decisiveness hurts them again
In pretty much every fixture this season, United have gone through large portions of games where they looked out of control and unable to settle down, and once again at Old Trafford, the Hammers’ goal came when the side seemed to be drifting and lacking a decisive edge.
Read More: Player Ratings – Manchester United vs West Ham (Premier League)
United never really looked like scoring, and once they managed to grab their ultimately lucky break, they never looked like scoring again.
The side are hurting themselves with a lack of inventiveness and freedom across the front line and in midfield, and the coach has to be looked at for how he sets up the Reds.
#5 – A major warning message to Amorim and United
In a season where no team apart from Arsenal looks truly at the races, tonight was yet another fixture where the club had the chance to take charge in the race for the top four.
However, as has been the case against Everton, Nottingham Forest, and Tottenham of late, the side has failed to deliver when needed, leaving them 8th in the table rather than in the mix with Chelsea and Aston Villa.
Drawing the tie despite being firmly in control of the scoreline once again is a major warning and red flag for both the players and the head coach, and if it lasts much longer, they’ll find themselves struggling to achieve any European football at all.
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