Ole and Moyes meet again

By Chris O'Brien
February 9 2021

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made six changes to his Manchester United line-up as the Red Devils prepare to get underway in the fifth round of the FA Cup against West Ham United at 7.30pm, as Bruno Fernandes is given a rest, and Dean Henderson starts between the sticks.

Following the disappointing Everton late show in Saturday's 3-3 draw, Solskjaer has made changes to his Red Devils XI for Tuesday evening's Cup showdown.

Henderson replaces David de Gea between the sticks, and will be eager to take the chance to impress after his Spanish competitor's poor display against the Toffees.

There's only one change to the back four - with in-form Luke Shaw among the substitutes, as Alex Telles - whose arrival has arguably pushed Shaw's to such superb performances - comes in.

Fernandes and Paul Pogba don't feature - with the Frenchman not in the match-day squad at all, as he nurses a thigh problem which will keep him sidelined for a few weeks.

Nemanja Matic and Fred will form a defensive-minded central pairing, and they are joined in midfield by Donny Van de Beek, who needs a big performance as he looks to muscle his way into the manager's plans.

Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood keep their starting spots - and are joined up top by Anthony Martial, who replaces Uruguyan powerhouse forward Edinson Cavani. 

Amad Diallo is on the bench - and could get a first senior appearance following his switch from Atalanta during the New Year transfer window. He has impressed for United's second-string, including a two-goal debut for the Under-23s against rivals Liverpool just over one week ago.

Should 'keeper Lee Grant, who turned 38 at the end of last month, come off the bench, he would make a third appearance for the club since arriving in July 2018, and a first in the FA Cup competition.

MUFC XI: Henderson; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Telles; Matic, Fred, Van de Beek; Greenwood, Rashford, Martial
Substitutes: Grant, Shaw, Tuanzebe, Williams, Fernandes, James, McTominay, Amad and Cavani.

Solskjaer's charges have reached this stage of the competition following impressive wins over Watford and, notably, Liverpool (although everyone seems to beat them these days...!). 

The game sees former United boss David Moyes returns to the North West of England - enjoying a rich vein of form during his second spell with the Irons, as West Ham mount an unlikely charge for Champions League qualification.

West Ham United come into the game on the back of a goalless draw at Fulham, and knocked Doncaster Rovers out of the Cup at round four. The Hammers last won the FA Cup in 1980, and won the League Cup the following season - but haven't bagged much in the way of silverware since; aside from two play-off wins in England's second tier, and the Intertoto Cup in 1999.