* Manchester United have gone over 450 minutes since last conceding against West Ham in the Premier League, winning all five clashes in the process.
* Yet in their most recent meeting, the East London club ran out comfortable 4-0 winners at Upton Park, in November’s League Cup quarter-final.
* In August’s reverse fixture at Old Trafford, United eased to a 3-0 victory, with Rooney’s opening penalty one of five goals the striker has scored in eight games against West Ham.
* The England international is currently two goals short of 100 for United, while Mexican Javier Hernandez has also been in fine form so far this season, scoring 10 goals from just 39 attempts.
* West Ham have lost just one game in their last seven, a 1-0 home defeat to Birmingham City, an improvement in form which has seen them climb out of the relegation zone in recent weeks.
* Current Premier League leaders United have only won four of their last 15 Premier League away fixtures.
* Carlton Cole could make his 250th appearance if he starts against Manchester United, while defeat will bring the Hammers' 250th loss in the league.
* Despite their poor away form, Manchester United have only lost three times this season, compared to West Ham’s 12 defeats and 11 draws.
* Manchester United look set to welcome back captain Nemanja Vidic to the centre of defence, a timely return with Rio Ferdinand, Rafael da Silva, John O’Shea injured along with long-term absentee Owen Hargreaves, while Paul Scholes and Jonny Evans miss out through suspension.
* Frederic Piquionne leads the goal scoring charts at Upton Park this season, having scored six goals so far this campaign, with Carlton Cole close behind on five strikes.
LAST MEETING
August 28th 2010, Manchester United 3-0 West Ham
A first-half Wayne Rooney penalty set the tone for this encounter, as second half goals from Nani five minutes after the break and Dimitar Berbatov twenty minutes from time, condemned a dismal West Ham to their third defeat in the opening month of the Premier League season.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
West Ham United: Green; Jacobsen, Upson, Da Costa, Bridge; Noble, Parker, Hitzlsperger, O’Neil; Cole, Ba.
Manchester United: Van der Sar; Brown, Smalling, Vidic, Evra; Nani, Giggs, Carrick, Valencia; Rooney, Berbatov.
Prediction
West Ham 1-2 Man Utd. 
