Did you know that, throughout the entire, 30-year Premier League era, only thirteen West Ham players have scored a goal away to Manchester United? Nuno Espirito Santo will be hoping number 14 arrives to pile further pressure on Ruben Amorim this Thursday.
Although, having said that, the West Ham United boss would also be happy enough with that number staying at thirteen. So long as Jarrod Bowen or Tomas Soucek, the two scorers from May’s 2-0 win at Old Trafford, repeat the trick seven months on.
Speaking of Bowen, the captain’s recent form is one issue Nuno Espirito Santo has to solve. Usually such a reliable finisher, the Hammers skipper has gone seven matches without finding the net.
This is his longest goal drought in nearly two years.
The good news is that the last time he went seven matches without a goal, Bowen bounced back with a Brentford hat-trick in February 2024. Speaking at his pre-match press conference this week, Nuno accepted that similar levels of ruthlessness may be required if they are to succeed where they failed against Liverpool on Sunday.
West Ham did not even muster a shot on target against a crisis-hit outfit who had lost nine of their previous 12 games. Yet, Ruben Amorim is not taking the threat of West Ham lightly.
Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty ImagesRuben Amorim is convinced Nuno Espirito Santo will succeed at West Ham United
Speaking in quotes reported by BBC Sport, Amorim remains convinced that his fellow Iberian will bring about happier times at the London Stadium.
There are some similarities between the two jobs. Amorim was parachuted in at Manchester United after Erik ten Hag’s position became untenable. Nuno, like his opposite number, also has to contend with an expensively assembled but frequently underachieving squad, an unhappy fanbase, unhelpful comparisons with past success, and a board which has been the subject of countless protests.
Yet, if Nuno could take Evangelos Marinakis’ madcap Nottingham Forest from seventeenth to seventh, from a relegation battle to European football, why can he not repeat the feat given time, patience and plenty of investment.
Can you guess the three missing players from West Ham’s 1-0 win at Old Trafford in 2007?
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“I had no doubts that he would have success, no matter the club,” Amorim said. “He is really experienced, he knows how to work with different squads. He understands the league really well, which is a plus when you are a manager.
“We know that it is going to be tough [against Nuno’s West Ham].
“He is really smart [when it comes to] understanding the game, the environment of the game, who has the more responsibility, all these things… he’s really good on that.
“Of course, the preparation is about the opponent but I am just really focused on what we need to do, what we need to improve, especially if you look at our first half versus Crystal Palace [a 2-1 comeback win on Sunday].
“It’s going to be a tough match.”
Matheus Cunha is back for Manchester United
The visitors have only won once at the home of Manchester United in the last 18 years.
Their chances of making it successive Old Trafford victories were made much slimmer when Nuno confirmed that Crysencio Summerville is likely to miss out again.
How do West Ham fix their Jarrod Bowen issue?
Bowen’s longest Premier League goal droughts…
Seven games, 2025/26Seven games, 2023/24Nine games, 2022/23Ten games, 2022/23Eight games, 2022/23 and 2021/22Thirteen games, 2021/22 and 2020/21Nine games, 2020/21Eight games, 2020/21Twelve games, 2019/20
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Lucas Paqueta is suspended as well. The Brazil international was sent off in ‘ridiculous’ circumstances against Liverpool, meaning West Ham will be without two of their key attacking talents.
As for the home side, Amorim is boosted by the return of Matheus Cunha. He does admit, though, that Man United have two as-yet unexplained doubts alongside the injured duo of Harry Maguire and Benjamin Sesko.
“We have two doubts for the game,” Amorim added. “I will not tell you today because we will change the way we are going to approach [the game]. Let’s see if they can play tomorrow.
“The rest of the squad is good. Matheus is good.”
Nuno wants big improvements after that flat Liverpool loss
Of the thirteen West Ham players to find the net at Old Trafford, only Bowen and Soucek remain.
What a moment this would be for Bowen to start scoring again.
“Each game is a new story. It was a tough game against Liverpool. We competed well for good spells but we didn’t achieve the result, but the feeling is that we competed until the last minute,” Nuno said.
“We have to improve many things. I think we played good in terms of offensive play. We tried to do the same things but [we needed] a better decision in the final third; the accuracy of the pass, the shot, the combination.
Who are the only West Ham players to score at Old Trafford in the Premier League era?
Jarrod Bowen, 2025Tomas Soucek, 2025Michail Antonio, 2020Felipe Anderson, 2019Diafra Sakho, 2016 and 2014Carlton Cole, 2013Dean Ashton, 2008Carlos Tevez, 2007Jermain Defoe, 2001Frederic Kanoute, 2001Paulo Wanchope, 2000Frank Lampard, 1999John Hartson, 1997
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
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“That’s what we expect to happen on Thursday, that we achieve good moments and we finish our actions. It makes a big difference when the players realise that after such a good combination, which is hard, the final action is not there.
“That is what we have to look for.
“I think they are a good team and they are playing good,” Nuno adds of a Man United side who have won four and lost one of their last seven matches. “We can see in the game against [Crystal Palace] that they can compete well.
“We expect a tough opponent, full of talented players. We can see how many teams United are competing against. The impressive thing is there, it’s for everybody to see.
“[Ruben Amorim and I] have met each other many times. All the respect for him. We are companions in the job that we do.
“I look at Ruben, I look at Man United, I look at their players. How can we compete against Man United? How can we take advantage? How can we contain them? This is what I am focused on.”
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