Fresh from lifting the EFL Cup, Manchester United seek to move one step closer to booking their place in another Wembley cup final when they host West Ham United at Old Trafford in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Wednesday.

David Moyes, meanwhile, returns to familiar territory as the former Red Devils boss bids to avoid a third successive elimination with the Hammers at this stage of the competition.

After ending their longest trophy drought since the 1980s, Manchester United have had little time to celebrate winning the Carabao Cup, as with an unlikely quadruple still mathematically on the cards, they now pursue progression in the FA Cup.

Erik ten Hag became just the second manager in club history to win a major piece of silverware in his first season along with José Mourinho, but he’s not ready to rest on his laurels, stating he’s “at the start of restoring Man Utd to where it belongs”.

A heroes welcome surely awaits at Old Trafford, and home has certainly been where the heart is for the Red Devils this season as they’re now unbeaten in their last 18 matches at the Theatre of Dreams (W16, D2). The last 13 games in that sequence have all seen Man United score at least twice, a record that’s sure to inspire confidence among their supporters, especially as they’ve lost just one home H2H since 2007 (W15, D3).

That defeat did come in a cup competition in 2021 though, which could give West Ham hope of upsetting the odds and progressing to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2015/16.

They were knocked out by Man Utd on that occasion, and visiting Old Trafford has long proved problematic for Hammers manager David Moyes, who has secured just one away victory against his former employers during his managerial career.

Travel sickness has blighted West Ham this term, though perhaps some encouragement will come from the fact their only wins on the road in 2023 have come in the FA Cup (W2, D2, L2).

They did at least build some momentum heading into their latest assignment though, with a pressure relieving 4-0 home victory over Nottingham Forest in the Premier League at the weekend helping to ease growing fears of relegation.

Players to watch: Marcus Rashford is one of the most in-form players in world football right now, and he just so happens to love facing the Hammers. He has played a joint career high ten H2Hs against them while also scoring ten goals – one of which came in their quarter-final meeting in the 2015/16 FA Cup.

After opening his West Ham account at the weekend, Danny Ings will be looking to score his first goal against the Red Devils since February 2015.

Hot stat: Five of the last six H2Hs between these two sides have been decided by a 1-0 scoreline.

Manchester United FA Cup form:

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Manchester United form (all competitions):

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West Ham United FA Cup form:

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West Ham United form (all competitions):

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Manchester United possible starting lineup:

Heaton; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Malacia; Casemiro, Sabitzer; Sancho, Fernandes, Rashford; Weghorst

West Ham United possible starting lineup:

Areola; Johnson, Kehrer, Aguerd, Cresswell; Rice, Soucek, Paqueta; Benrahma, Antonio, Bowen

Both teams head into Wednesday’s encounter on a high following their victories last weekend, but the momentum is with Man United and they will be regarded as firm favourites to come out on top, even if Ten Hag opts to rest a few of his regular starters.

The last six meetings between the two teams have been decided by just the one goal and another tight affair could be in store here, but we expect the Red Devils – in front of a jubilant Old Trafford crowd – to book their place in the quarter-finals with a routine victory.