After losing to 10-man Everton, then beating an impressive Palace side away from home, predicting anything from Manchester United at the minute is impossible. The only thing certain is that they will persist with the same formation and setup, and make lots of second half substitutes in defence, exactly what happened on Thursday night, and ultimately could have been partly to blame for United dropping points from a winning position. With Amorim once again testing the patience of fans and the media given his inflexibility, the on and off results are making any signs of consistent progress or a genuine European challenge look unlikely.

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Teams

Manchester United: Lammens, Shaw (Martinez 88′), Heaven (Yoro 46′), Mazraoui, Dalot (Dorgy 68′), Casemiro, Fernandes, Amad, Cunha (Ugarte 77′), Mbeumo, Zirkzee (Mount 78′)

Subs: Bayindir, Malacia, Mainoo, Lacey

West Ham United: Areola, Diouf, Todibo, Mavropanos, Wan-Bissaka, Potts (Irving 83′), Magassa, Fernandes, Bowen, Soucek (Kante 83′), Wilson (Kilman 87′)

Subs: Hermansen, Mayers, Walker-Peters, Earthy, Rodriguez, Marshall

Manchester United 1-1 West Ham United

Manchester United looked set for a routine home victory at Old Trafford on Thursday night after a quiet first half gave way to a more positive second-half display. After weathering the early pressure from a resilient West Ham side, the hosts gradually took control, stringing together some neat attacking moves. Their persistence paid off in the 58th minute when Diogo Dalot reacted quickly to finish off a loose ball following a Casemiro shot, sending the Stretford End into celebration with his composed strike. For a moment, the race for a top-five spot looked to be back on track for Ruben Amorim’s men.

However, the momentum swung back in West Ham’s favour late in the game. With the clock creeping past the 80-minute mark, the Hammers capitalised on a set-piece situation that United had themselves championed this season. After a corner was partially cleared, Soungoutou Magassa was on hand to fire home in the 83rd minute, marking his first Premier League goal and giving the visitors a well-deserved equaliser. It was a sucker-punch for United, who had dominated possession for much of the evening but struggled to carve out clear chances in the final third.

The draw left many home fans frustrated as the Red Devils missed the chance to move up the table, ultimately settling for a point while West Ham earned a morale-boosting result despite remaining near the foot of the league. Substitutions and late-game tactics came under scrutiny, as United couldn’t regain control after losing their lead. Still, Dalot’s strike and Magassa’s late leveller ensured that this Old Trafford encounter delivered drama right up to the final whistle.

Talking Points

Manchester United’s habit of letting promising positions slip was again the headline at Old Trafford. After taking the lead and seemingly settling into control, the team allowed West Ham back into the game with a late equaliser that felt all too familiar. It wasn’t just the dropped points themselves, but the pattern, United playing well in phases, going ahead, and then failing to manage key moments. For a side trying to climb the table and build consistency under pressure, these are the types of results that continue to hold them back.

Much of the post-match discussion centred on the substitutions, which once more appeared to disrupt United’s rhythm rather than strengthen it. Before the changes, the hosts were moving the ball with purpose and pinning West Ham deeper; afterwards, the cohesion seeped away. The fresh legs didn’t translate into fresh control, and instead United lost their grip on midfield, allowing the visitors to grow in confidence. It’s a recurring theme that will undoubtedly raise questions about in-game management and whether adjustments are helping or hindering the team’s ability to see out matches.

Adding to the unease was the ongoing conversation around Kobbie Mainoo and the strong expectation that he may depart in January. While nothing is confirmed, the growing noise around his future is difficult to ignore and, on nights like this, only amplifies concerns about United’s direction. Mainoo’s composure and intelligence in midfield are already central to the team’s identity, and the possibility of losing such a key young figure casts a shadow over the coming months. For supporters, the result was disappointing, but the uncertainty off the pitch might be even more unsettling.