West Brom v Man Utd preview

Louis van Gaal’s team have not lost since the incredible 5-3 defeat at Leicester last month, which is their only league defeat since the opening day of the season.
Successive 2-1 home wins over West Ham and Everton lifted United into the top four, where they can return with victory on Monday on a ground at which they have never lost in the Premier League, with a record of seven wins and a draw.
Should United come out on top in the midlands, it will be the first time they have won three successive matches in 2014.
Doing so would also end a terrible recent away record, which has seen them fail to register a victory in their past five games away from Old Trafford – their worst run since 2001.
It is 18 years since they went six Premier League away games without a win.
There have been clear signs this month that United’s summer signings are beginning to gel, with Angel di Maria the pick, having scored three and assisted three goals in the five Premier League games in which he has appeared.
However, West Brom have an in-form player of their own and one United know only too well.
England Under-21 striker Saido Berahino scored the winner in a 2-1 West Brom victory at Old Trafford last season and already has six goals this campaign, five of which have come at the Hawthorns.
The Baggies have a good home record so far this season, having lost just one of the five games they have played in all competitions.
But their record against United is very poor, with last season’s away win their only success against the 13-time Premier League champions in 18 attempts.
Alan Irvine’s side come into this game off the back of a 2-1 defeat at Liverpool, but before that they recorded back-to-back league wins against Burnley and Tottenham.
Team news
West Brom skipper Chris Brunt could be fit despite injuring his groin on international duty with Northern Ireland, which caused him to miss the victories over the Faroe Islands and Greece.
Striker Victor Anichebe, whose last league start came in the 0-0 draw at Southampton on 23 August, is a doubt with a hernia problem.
United captain Wayne Rooney is suspended after his red card against West Ham, meaning Juan Mata is likely to continue just behind the strikers, as he did against Everton.
Defender Chris Smalling and midfielders Ander Herrera, Ashley Young, Phil Jones and Michael Carrick are training again and could feature in the game, if they can prove their match fitness.
Merson’s prediction
I think this will be a really good game to watch.
At the moment Man United are a team that has to go out and score goals because one goal isn’t enough for them to win a football match.
I don’t know when we’ll next see Man United come off the pitch having won 1-0. It makes good TV, but you ain’t going to win anything doing that.
Attacking teams win games, but a good defence wins championships; it’s very rare that you see a team win the league by scoring 100 and letting in 80.
As a neutral they are the team to watch because the forward line is as good as anybody’s in world football and I think there will be loads of goals on Monday night. It won’t be 0-0, that’s for sure…
Paul predicts: 2-4