In the third round of Barclays Premier League fixtures, Manchester United hosts West Ham United at Old Trafford as both teams look to bounce back from their disappointing results last weekend.
Despite having the lead twice against Fulham, United were unable to get all three points at Craven Cottage, and fell two points and a massive nine goals behind league-leaders Chelsea just two games into the brand new season.
Their Saturday opponents, though, have gotten off to an even worse start and the Hammers are winless in their first two Premier League matches - losing to Aston Villa (3-0) and Bolton Wanderers (3-1).
Because of their inability to pick up a point this season, West Ham are second from bottom in the Premier League table - ahead of only Wigan Athletic on goal differential.
One of the last teams that the Claret and Blues want to face is United, because the Reds have reeled-off five consecutive victories - four of them shutouts.
The last time the Irons won at Old Trafford was on the final day of the 2006/07 season - and United played their fringe players having already wrapped up their first of three consecutive Premier League titles in a row.
The win controversially preserved West Ham's Premiership status that season, and it was also the first of back-to-back wins for West Ham over the United (2-1 win at Upton Park in December 2008).
About
The 19th placed-Hammers did pick up their first victory with a 1-0 over Oxford United, who are in the fourth tier of English football (League Two) - in the second round of the Carling Cup.
It was a far from convincing performance by the west London club as they needed a well-struck Scott Parker goal deep into stoppage time to spare the blushes all around Upton Park.
Parker is again being heavily linked with a move across to north London and Tottenham Hotspur as as the 29-year old workhorse has a burning desire to play in the UEFA Champions League before his playing days are over.
The owners, David Gold and David Sullivan, has said that the former England international is the only Iron that is not for sale, which means that both Matthew Upson and Carlton Cole could still move on before the transfer deadline.
Upson, who serves as the club captain, is likely to miss the match after suffering a broken nose after he got kicked in the face by Kevin Davies against Bolton.
Cole, who has led the Hammers in goals the last two seasons, is being rumored to be moving to either Liverpool, Stoke City or Sunderland by close of the window
Shockingly, West Ham decided to part ways with Alessandro Diamanti as he went back to the Italian Serie A with Brescia in a £1.8million deal.
Grant has decided that West Ham's squad was a bit too thin, so he has brought in five players during the summer - Frederic Piquionne (Lyon), Pablo Barrera (UNAM), Tal Ben-Haim (Portsmouth - loan), Winston Reid (FC Midtjylland) and Victor Obinna (Inter Milan - loan) to Upton Park.
News
Sir Alex Ferguson has said that two United players are the verge of returning from their respective injury lay-offs, but will still miss the match against West Ham.
Both Rio Ferdinand and Anderson are on the fast-track to recovery from their respective long-term knee injuries, and should be back in contention for a place in the first-team in September.
No win is ever guaranteed in the Barclays Premier League, but if Manchester United do not get maximum points from this match against West Ham United, they might as well kiss their chances of winning a 19th domestic league title good-bye.
Treatment
Out: O. Hargreaves (knee), G. Obertan (ankle); Doubtful: G. Neville (groin), R. Ferdinand (knee), Anderson (knee),
Projected
E. van der Sar; J. O'Shea, N. Vidic, J. Evans, P. Evra; A. Valencia, R. Giggs, D. Fletcher, Nani; W. Rooney, D. Berbatov
Prediction
Manchester United 3, West Ham United 0
Contributed by David Hammons / The United Religion
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