Five years on from another West Ham double header

It will be the ninth time this fixture list quirk has arisen for United, including on one occasion last season with back-to-back away wins against Brighton & Hove Albion.

While it’s a rare twist of fate, this is actually the second time that United and West Ham have faced each other in such quick succession.

Almost five years ago, in October 2016, the Reds hosted West Ham twice in four days.

Diafra Sakho headed the visitors in front just two minutes into our Premier League meeting at Old Trafford, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic also nodded home in the first half, finishing off a wonderful Paul Pogba pass.

From that point, it seemed certain that United, with momentum building, would find a winner, but Hammers goalkeeper Darren Randolph proved steadfast. Jose Mourinho made headlines when his frustration manifested itself in a water bottle kick as Pogba was booked for diving later on in the game.

Suspension for his dramatic reaction saw Mourinho sitting in the Old Trafford stands when West Ham came back to United only three days later.

This time, things went more smoothly.

Ibrahimovic put the Reds ahead inside two minutes and, although Academy graduate Ashley Fletcher levelled for West Ham before half-time, United comfortably secured a place in the League Cup semi-finals with a double from Anthony Martial and a last-gasp second from Ibrahimovic.

“Goals plus performance means the real happiness,” smiled Mourinho, whose side went on to lift the trophy five months later.