THE SHARPE END: Julen Lopetegui's West Ham are showing signs of improvement - even if the results are yet to show it - and why Rasmus Hojlund can save the day for Erik ten Hag's Man United
- West Ham will host Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday
- JAMES SHARPE has compiled pre-match stats to encourage fans of both teams
- LISTEN NOW: It's All Kicking Off!, available wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Monday and Thursday
It's all a bit doom and gloom at West Ham.
Pressure is growing on Julen Lopetegui, the replacement for David Moyes, who has so far delivered neither the style which Hammers fans craved nor the results that his predecessor achieved.
Lopetegui is not, apparently, in immediate danger of the sack but it's clear results have to pick up. There is, though, the tiniest flicker of hope amid the seemingly hopeless.
Over the last four games, ones that still included thumping defeats by Chelsea and Tottenham, their underlying numbers have improved significantly, not just from their start under Lopetegui but also surpassing Moyes's final season in terms of passes, shots and the chances they are conceding.
The results need to improve — and quickly — but this shows that, perhaps, in time, they just might.
Julen Lopetegui has won three of his first 10 games as West Ham manager in all competitions
Rasmus' return a big boost for Ten Hag
The return from injury of Rasmus Hojlund is a huge boost for another under-pressure manager in Erik ten Hag.
United win more games when Hojlund starts, lose far fewer, and score more goals.
Despite missing 12 Premier League games since joining, and starting just 27, he is still United's top goalscorer.
He's needed just 40 shots for his 11 goals.
No other player aged under 25 with six goals in that time boasts a better shot-to-goal ratio.
Rasmus Hojlund has played in Man United's last four games after getting over his injury issues
Hojlund pictured (centre) on Saturday during a first-team training session in east London
