Premier League Summer Series: Manchester United vs. West Ham United Preview
Manchester United and West Ham United will clash at MetLife Stadium on Saturday (local time) to kick off the Premier League Summer Series, a pre-season tournament hosted in the United States. Both teams will also face Everton and Bournemouth in a round-robin format, with the team earning the most points after three matches declared the champion.
Manchester United: Seeking Redemption
After a dismal 2024-25 season, Manchester United are eager to rebound. The Red Devils finished 15th in the Premier League, amassing only 42 points—their worst top-flight performance since 1973-74. A loss to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final further sealed their fate, marking just the second time in 35 years they will miss out on European competition.
Head coach Ruben Amorim faces intense scrutiny in his first full season at Old Trafford. The squad has been reinforced with three summer signings, including the £71m acquisition of Brentford’s forward Bryan Mbeumo. The other newcomers, Matheus Cunha and Diego Leon, showed promise in their debuts during a goalless draw against Leeds United at Stockholm’s Strawberry Arena last weekend.
Despite these additions, United’s attacking woes persist. Last season’s 44-goal Premier League tally was their lowest ever, and their recent outing against Leeds highlighted the urgent need for a new centre-forward. Names like Nicolas Jackson, Benjamin Sesko, and Ollie Watkins are reportedly on their radar.
A 32-player Manchester United squad landed in the U.S. on Tuesday. Amorim will look for signs of progress in matches against West Ham, Bournemouth, and Everton before returning to Old Trafford for their final pre-season friendly against Fiorentina on August 9.
West Ham United: A Fresh Start
West Ham fans had lofty expectations last year under new manager Julen Lopetegui, backed by significant transfer spending. However, his tenure was short-lived and disappointing, leaving Graham Potter to salvage the 2024-25 season. Potter’s stint resulted in a 14th-place Premier League finish, with only six wins from 19 matches.
Now, Potter has a full pre-season to instill his vision and steer West Ham back toward European qualification for 2025-26. The Hammers have strengthened their defense with full-back signings El Hadji Malick Diouf and Kyle Walker-Peters. However, the attack needs bolstering following the £55m departure of Mohammed Kudus to rivals Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month.
West Ham kicked off their pre-season in Germany with a 3-1 win over Grasshopper Club Zurich, thanks to goals from Andy Irving, Callum Marshall, and Lucas Paqueta. With upcoming matches against Everton, Bournemouth, and Lille, the Hammers first face Manchester United—a side they defeated twice in the Premier League last season, including a 2-0 triumph at Old Trafford under Potter in May.
