West Ham, United Marquee Matchup Between Elite Midfielders

Both West Ham and Manchester United can boast elite midfielders in the Premier League, it’ll be up to them to dictate the outcome of this stellar matchup.

We’ve seen in David Moyes dual defensive midfielder system that Tomas Soucek is the more adventurous and advanced than the more responsible Declan Rice. This system has worked for West Ham, settling their defensive play and balancing their sharp attack and stout defence.

Against Manchester United, Rice will have to be on his A-game for the Hammers to hang with an unpredictably potent Red Devil’s attack, specifically when marking Bruno Fernandes. The Portuguese playmaker has changed a one-note attack into a more threatening, possession-heavy attack.

Fernandes’ penalty goals have overshadowed his versatility in goal scoring, let alone offensive creation. His bullet header against Everton exemplified his ability to lose his man and attack aerially, while his long-range goal later in the same match shows that he can strike from any distance.

This season, Bruno Fernandes has been Manchester United’s best player, racking up player of the month for his team every month so far, and has put up elite production numbers with 10 goals and five assists in 15 matches across all competitions.

To rebuke this offensive instigator, West Ham will stick Declan Rice on him in hopes of completely nullifying the playmaker’s skills. Moyes will have confidence in his skipper to do so as Rice is currently third in the Premier League in interceptions and has proven himself this season against the best the Prem has to offer.

If these two players aren’t highlighted by every broadcast as the marquee players, dictating the outcome of the match then they are flat out wrong. United would be nothing this year without Fernandes in the driver seat and the Hammers would be rudderless and soulless without their new-age skipper cemented in the midfield. Fireworks incoming at the London Stadium.