Manchester United want to remain alive in the English Premier League title race this season, and for that to happen they need to win every single match while waiting for a few losses from Manchester City.
It’s certainly a tough environment, but that’s the scenario considering City’s 11-point advantage at the top. And knowing each game counts from now on, United will travel to The Hawthorns to take on West Bromwich Albion this Sunday. But which side has the edge when it comes to their recent history? Let’s dive into the numbers to find out.
Which side has a better record over the past 10 years?
Manchester United and WBA have played 16 times in the past 10 years, and all of those have come in the Premier League context. There is no question Jose Mourinho’s men have a clear edge, as they have registered nine wins and four draws. West Bromwich only have three wins, but two of those have come in the past five meetings.
Playing at The Hawthorns, United have played eight times, registering five wins, two draws and just one win. United won last season 2-0 almost one year ago, when two goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic lifted United to a huge win on the road. Zlatan will likely be part of the squad once again, although he is not expected to start.
Which side has the edge in cup competitions?
Manchester United and West Bromwich have not met in Cup matches over the past 10 years. If we extend the span to 15 years, however, then we can see these two sides have met twice in cup competitions. Each side has won once; WBA won in the Carling Cup in 2003, while United avenged that loss in the same tournament with a 3-1 win in 2005. Cristiano Ronaldo, Louis Saha and John O’Shea scored for The Red Devils, while Nathan Ellington pulled one back for the Magpies. That was quite an emotional game for United, as it was the first one since the passing of George Best.
Which side arrives in better form?
Undoubtedly, Manchester United are in better form since they sit second in the Premier League standings. They are coming off a 1-0 win over Bournemouth, and have won four of their past five across all competitions.
West Brom are coming off a scoreless draw against Liverpool, and they have been the exact opposite to United since they are riding a 16-game winless run across all competitions. They have just one loss in their last five Premier League matches, though.
Will United be able to pounce on West Brom’s struggles to come out on top?
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