Man U: De Gea, Dalot, Maguire ©, Varane, Alex Telles, Fred, McTominay, Bruno Fernandes, Elanga, Greenwood, Cristiano Ronaldo Subs: Henderson (GK), Jones, Matić, Mata, van de Beek, Lingard, Martial, Rashford, Cavani
West Ham: Areola, Coufal, Dawson, Zouma, Cresswell, Rice ©, 28. Souček, Bowen, Lanzini, Fornals, Antonio Subs: Randolph (GK), Johnson, Fredericks, Diop, Masuaku, Král, Noble, Vlašić, Yarmolenko

Hammers have been linked with a plethora of players during the last 12 months, the departure of Sebastien Haller being the trigger point for an ever increasing amount of transfer rumours ,way in excess of the already high amount the club usually receives.

Although he was reserved, some might even say recalcitrant, when asked how he felt about taking his team to Old Trafford having had such a poor time there as a manager, there was a certain gleam in his steely blue eyes that hinted that he indeed DID have some very strong thoughts on the matter, but as is his way he chose to stone wall the questioning.

Hammers supporters of a certain age grew up with the understanding that when a game involving West Ham was labelled a 'six pointer', it was a reference to a game full of jeopardy in which the loser continues their perilous decent into the relegation zone.

Like Hammers pursuit of a striker is old news, David Moyes' pursuit of linking up with Jesse Lingard has been doing the rounds ever since the Manchester United attacking midfielder returned to Old Trafford following what was a largely successful loan spell at West Ham.

Säid Benrahma's Algeria side have crashed out of the AFCON tournament, despite being the current holders and the favourites to win again. Their 3-1 defeat by Sebastien Haller's Ivory Coast that guaranteed their exit is the shock of the tournament so far and had NOT been anticipated.

Remember Albian Ajeti, he who arrived at West Ham with a good pedigree from Swiss club Basel for £10.17 Million in 2019? He arrived as a goal scoring phenomena, but left with goal scoring pneumonia by transferring to Celtic at a £5.5 Million loss.

Ajeti's failure in the Premier League clearly indicates the gulf in difference between the English and Swiss Leagues, scoring for fun in the land of Toblerone and dodgy banks simply doesn't translate into anywhere near the fortitude required to survive the hustle and bustle of the most frenetic league in the World.

Having emptied Hammers' bank account completely, in addition to leaving the club with a MASSIVE repayment schedule, ex-manager Manuel Pellegrini now wants to take advantage of one of his previous 'excesses'. Nothing wrong with that, given what other ex-managers have done to their previous clubs.

"Nothing to see here, now move on please" is the phrase much beloved of 'Coppers' in old black and white movies, as they attempt to move onlookers on from the scene of a crime. There have been so many column inches devoted to Jesse Lingard's departure from Manchester United that we are inclined to use the old copper's advice.

If ever there was an indication that the relationship between Jesse Lingard and Manchester United has reached its breaking point, Ralf Rangnick's decision to not even include Lingard in the Manchester United squad to play Brentord was surely more than a pointer that the midfielder will be on his way out of Old Trafford, BEFORE the end of the January window.