West Ham United will head to Old Trafford next month for a fifth round FA Cup tie against Manchester United.
The Hammers booked their place in the competition’s last 16 on Monday night, with goals from Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio sealing a 2-0 win over League One side Derby County at Pride Park.
Shortly before kick-off at the home of the Rams, the winner of the tie knew that they would be facing a trip to the north west next month to face a side in fine fettle this season since Erik ten Hag’s arrival as United boss in the summer.
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United, who currently sit fourth in the Premier League table and level on points with third placed Newcastle United, remain in all four cup competitions possible, meaning that their remaining fixture list this season is rather hectic.
On Wednesday night, they face Nottingham Forest in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final tie, with United holding a 3-0 advantage going into the return leg at Old Trafford.
Should they seal a place in the final, as is largely expected, they will take on either Newcastle or Southampton in the Carabao Cup final, just days before playing West Ham in the FA Cup.
Between now and the fifth round clash, likely to be on Wednesday, March 1, West Ham play just four Premier League matches and have no weeks where they play more than once.
The same cannot be said for hosts United. Starting with their second leg against Forest, they will have eight fixtures to play in the next four weeks before hosting West Ham, regardless of whether or not they reach the Carabao Cup final.
In February, their Premier League fixtures look relatively comfortable. Ten Hag’s side are due to face Crystal Palace, Leeds United (twice), Leicester City and Brentford in the Premier League next month. However, that Brentford trip will likely be postponed due to the Carabao Cup final taking place on the same day.
The league proves not to be too challenging, on paper, but on top of that, the Red Devils have home and away ties with Spanish giants Barcelona to contend with in the Europa League’s Round of 32, with the second leg taking place just three days before the potential Carabao Cup final and six days before hosting West Ham.
On top of this February run, United’s next league game after facing West Ham comes away at Liverpool and with United keen to build on their good season, the West Ham game may prove to be one of only a few opportunities to rest and rotate players in the coming weeks.
West Ham United’s next fixtures :
February 4: Newcastle United (away, Premier League)
February 11: Chelsea (home, Premier League)
February 19: Tottenham Hotspur (away, Premier League)
February 25: Nottingham Forest (home, Premier League)
February 28/March 1: Manchester United (away, FA Cup)
Manchester United’s next fixtures:
February 1: Nottingham Forest (home, Carabao Cup)
February 4: Crystal Palace (home, Premier League)
February 8: Leeds United (home, Premier League)
February 12: Leeds United (away, Premier League)
February 16: Barcelona (away, Europa League)
February 19: Leicester City (home, Premier League)
February 23: Barcelona (home, Europa League)
February 26: Brentford (home, Premier League) or Newcastle United/ Southampton (Wembley, Carabao Cup)
February 28/March 1: West Ham United (home, FA Cup)
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