Confirmed Starting XI: Manchester United vs West Ham

Yet again, the Red Devils lacked a creative edge in their goalless draw at Old Trafford against West Ham United.

Manchester United are without striker Wayne Rooney because of an ankle injury, while Marcos Rojo is out with a dislocated shoulder.

The result, which was United’s fourth draw in their last six Premier League games, left the Red Devils in fourth place in the table and three points behind leaders Leicester City.

Here is how Twitter reacted to Mata’s below-par performance against West Ham.

United need to win at the Volkswagen Arena next week to guarantee their passage to the last 16 of the Champions League.

Inevitably, any consideration of the match will have to mention Manchester United’s 21 shots and there will certainly have been times in recent memory when the Hammers might have come away from the game with nothing.

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic, who is already missing Enner Valencia, Diafra Sakho and Dimitri Payet to injuries, lamented after the match.

They have lost just one of their last 14 Premier League home games (W10, D3) – that was May’s 1-0 defeat by West Brom.

Mauro Zarate has scored in three of his four Premier League starts for West Ham this season.

I just don’t see them getting anything at Old Trafford.

However, a dismal display from one of Louis van Gaal’s key players led to United failing to open up West Ham yesterday.

I’m going for a 2-0 United win because West Ham have hit a bit of a brick wall after their brilliant early season form. Carrick and Schweinsteiger were in charge of the midfield to control matters as United were playing with a narrower formation against Leicester. Against West Ham, they can bring in Schneiderlin for Carrick to provide some cover for defense while Schweinsteiger can play higher up the pitch to overload attack.

West Ham have impressed on their travels with victories at Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool but have secured only two from a possible 12 points recently.