Premier League preview as Manchester United chase a fifth straight win under Michael Carrick at the London Stadium

Belief is a fragile thing in football. It disappears quickly and returns quietly. Manchester United travel to the London Stadium on the back of emphatic victories over Arsenal and Tottenham, performances that felt like more than just three points. They felt like restoration.

Under Michael Carrick, United look like a team rediscovering themselves. Structure has replaced confusion. Intent has replaced hesitation. Four wins on the bounce have shifted the mood from survival to ambition, and now they stand on the brink of a fifth consecutive victory in the Premier League.

Carrick’s influence has not been loud or theatrical. It has been measured. Simplified roles. Clearer transitions. Greater trust in youth. United look balanced between control and aggression, capable of building patiently or striking quickly when space appears.

At the heart of that balance is Kobbie Mainoo. Finally trusted with responsibility, Mainoo has flourished.

His composure under pressure allows United to breathe in tight moments. His ability to receive the ball between the lines and link defence to attack has given the midfield a calm authority it previously lacked. He does not rush the game. He reads it. Against a West Ham United side likely to compress space and counter quickly, his control of tempo could define the contest.

Yet the London Stadium carries its own history.

United have not won there since 2021. It has been a ground where momentum has stalled before, where confidence has been tested and structure has unravelled under pressure. Form does not automatically travel. It must be imposed.

West Ham enter this fixture with urgency of their own. The relegation conversation still shadows their campaign, and each game carries consequence. This is not a side playing freely. It is a side playing with weight on every decision.

Crysencio Summerville has become their spark. Five goals in his last five matches reflect confidence and sharpness in decisive moments. Direct in his running and fearless in execution, he embodies West Ham’s willingness to attack space quickly.

Alongside him, Jarrod Bowen remains the constant threat. Intelligent in movement, relentless in pressing and capable of delivering in big moments, Bowen will test United’s defensive discipline throughout.

West Ham’s blueprint is clear: stay compact, disrupt rhythm, strike in transition. They have won three of the last five meetings between the sides, a reminder that they know how to frustrate and punish United when opportunities arise.

For Manchester United, this fixture represents more than momentum. A fifth consecutive victory would strengthen their Champions League push and reinforce the idea that Carrick’s influence is sustainable rather than reactive. It would confirm that identity has been restored rather than temporarily rediscovered.

For West Ham, this is about resistance. A chance to halt a team in ascendancy and collect vital points in their fight for security.

One side arrives with momentum and ambition. The other arrives with urgency and defiance. At the London Stadium, history and form collide and only one will leave with three points.