MANCHESTER UNITED
Premier League, Old Trafford, Sunday 4 February 2024, 2pm GMT
West Ham United head for Old Trafford to take on Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.
Manchester United have recently made headlines by news of businessman Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s successful bid to purchase 25% of the club and for his company INEOS to take control of football operations.
While that deal has yet to be formally completed, Ratcliffe and his representatives have been present at recent Red Devils matches and his arrival has been greeted with optimism by many Manchester United supporters.
Under head coach Erik ten Hag, Manchester United have been knocked out of the UEFA Champions League and EFL Cup already this season, and are already struggling in the race to finish in the Premier League’s top four.
How to get there…
As is the case with so many football stadia these days, it is recommended that supporters take public transport, rather than driving to the game.
Direct train services leave London Euston for Manchester Piccadilly at 08.16, 09.16 and 10.16 on Sunday 2 February, arriving around two hours and 45 minutes later.
From Piccadilly, take the Metrolink towards Altrincham and get off at Old Trafford. From there, it is a ten-minute walk to the stadium. Alternatively, you can take a taxi from Piccadilly, which should cost you around £10.
After the game, return to Piccadilly and catch a direct service leaving at .15, .35 or .55 past the hour. Journey times back to Euston are just over two hours.
If you do opt to drive to the game, you can purchase matchday parking permits to park near Old Trafford for £12. Visit tickets.manutd.com to book your space.
Alternatively, park elsewhere and take the Metrolink to the ground.
Where to stay…
As England’s second-largest urban area, Manchester and its surrounding towns have plenty of accommodation options to suit all budgets and tastes.
There are some sensational hotels in the city, many of which are either within walking distance of the Metrolink or a short taxi ride to Old Trafford.
For those for whom price is more important than style, there are the usual chain options in and around the city centre.
What to do…
As a city that flourished and grew rapidly during the Industrial Revolution, many of Manchester’s major sights derive from the Victorian period.
If you arrive in the city with some time to explore before heading to Old Trafford, the Science and Industry Museum is a fascinating museum based in the country’s first railway station, Liverpool Road.
If you’d rather stick to the Beautiful Game, the National Football Museum is situated in Cathedral Gardens to the north of the city centre, and houses the world’s finest collection of football objects and memorabilia, the English Football Hall of Fame, as well as interactive games for all the family.
For further information, head to visitmanchester.com.
If you are making a weekend of it, Salford City, who were taken over by five former Manchester United players in 2014, host Wrexham in EFL League Two on Saturday 3 February at 3pm…
What’s happened there before…
West Ham United have not won at Old Trafford in the Premier League since Carlos Tevez scored a vital goal to defeat Manchester United and keep the Hammers in the Premier League in May 2007.
Since then, the Irons have visited on 15 occasions in the Premier League, lost 12 matches and drawn three. The last three top-flight trips to Old Trafford have ended in 1-0 defeats.
In the domestic cup competitions, the Irons have played at Old Trafford six times, winning 1-0 in the EFL Cup third round thanks to Manuel Lanzini’s goal in September 2021.
