West Ham will now travel to Manchester United without one of their best players on Thursday night after a red card during their 2-0 defeat against Liverpool.
Ruben Amorim will be hoping to make it two straight wins when Man Utd take on West Ham.(Image: Manchester United via Getty Imag)
Manchester United have been handed an early boost just in time for next week’s Premier League game against West Ham after Nuno Espirito Santo was given an unwanted suspension concern.
United return to winning ways against Crystal Palace due to goals from Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount in the second half. Ruben Amorim’s men are now sixth in the Premier League table ahead of Thursday night’s match-up with West Ham.
The Hammers fell to an eighth league defeat of the season against champions Liverpool courtesy of goals from Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo. Nuno Espirito Santo’s team travel to Old Trafford on Thursday night, and will be without one of their key players.
Lucas Paqueta was forced to miss last week’s 2-2 draw at AFC Bournemouth after collecting five yellow cards. After returning to the starting XI against Liverpool, the Brazilian received a red card after picking up two yellow cards amid bizarre scenes.
The playmaker was initially booked for dissent in the 83rd minute before talking himself into a red card. Despite Jarred Bowen and Mateus Fernandes doing their best to pull Paqueta away, referee Darren England sent the 28-year-old off after receiving a mouthful.
Paqueta’s suspension comes at the perfect time for United. After beating Palace, Ruben Amorim’s squad will be hoping to climb up the table in the next week with two more matches amid what is a hectic start to December.
Lucas Paqueta was sent off against Liverpool and in turn will miss the Man Utd game. (Image: PA)
The United head coach heaped praise on Zirkzee and Diogo Dalot after the victory at Selhurst Park. “It was really important,” said Amorim of Zirkzee’s goal.
“But again, it was not just the goal, even the runs behind. In the first half he struggled on the duels and he won some duels in the second half. We improved a lot because of the quality of Josh in the second half. That is important for him to understand. That is not just the goal. We play better because Josh played better in the second half.”
On Dalot, after previously being critical of his options at left wing-back, Amorim added: “It’s of course defending and attacking. If you have certain characteristics, the pace, you can go right or left because you also can play with your left.
“You need to use that in every single game in the Premier League and not just one game and then we drop a little bit the level. But it’s the same thing that I said with Patrick.
“I know they have a lot of quality. They just need to be relaxed sometimes and show that and show the intensity and the pace that they have.”
West Ham visit Manchester before the Reds make a trip to Molineux to take on Wolves. Rob Edwards’ men are at the bottom of the Premier League table after 13 games, picking up only two points so far.
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