PL Collection: Four classics v West Ham

To get you started, we've been selecting choice games against each of the 19 opponents we'll face next season, and the latest object of our focus is West Ham United.

The east London club have played in 26 of the Premier League's 30 seasons so far, so there's plenty of memorable duels with United to choose from.

UNITED 7 WEST HAM 1 (1999/2000)

West Ham only made one real mistake in this match: taking the lead. United were at our imperious best through much of the 1999/2000 season, which we began as Treble winners, with confidence abounding. Paulo Wanchope gave the visitors a surprise opener in the 11th minute, but that only acted as the proverbial red rag to the bull. Paul Scholes soon equalised with a low drive, and, by half-time, Sir Alex Ferguson's boys were 3-1 up. The picture did not get any prettier for the southerners after the interval: Scholes completed his hat-trick just after the hour mark, before David Beckham sent home a marvellous free-kick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer swept home number seven. United would go on to win the title by a vast 18 points, and this was arguably the perfect example of our complete domestic dominance.

WEST HAM 3 UNITED 5 (2001/02)

The Hammers put up a much better fight a couple of years later at the Boleyn Ground, but United still managed to edge ahead every time the hosts got within punching distance. Twice Harry Redknapp's side went ahead in the opening 25 minutes, but each time the Reds quickly responded – first through Beckham's sublime on-the-run chip, then via Nicky Butt –  and, after the break, Scholes and Solskjaer helped us open up a two-goal advantage. Jermain Defoe made it 4-3 in the 78th minute, but Beckham's second of the game – dispatched from the penalty spot – made the game safe just a minute before time. Another classic, see-sawing match.

WEST HAM 2 UNITED 4 (2010/11)

United seemed down and out at half-time of this meeting, in early April. Defeat would have left the gap to second-placed Arsenal perilously narrow, with just seven games left, but the Reds responded powerfully at Upton Park. Mark Noble's two penalties had been responsible for the Hammers' advantage, and the hosts had been by far the better team in the first period, limiting United to very few chances. But a tactical switch at the interval, with Ryan Giggs moving to left-back, proved key in helping us back into the game. The star of the show, however, was Wayne Rooney, who notched an amazing second-half hat-trick – including a stunning free-kick – to move us ahead.  Javier Hernandez added a sealing fourth, and United stretched the lead at the top of the table, marching onwards to a record 19th league title.

UNITED 4 WEST HAM 0 (2017/18)

The opening day of the season, in front of a sunny Old Trafford, and a resounding win – does it get any better? Jose Mourinho's United were strong, swift and ruthless in their first game of the 2017/18 season, with new signings Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic excelling on their home debuts. The Belgian started the scoring six minutes before the break, and then doubled his tally seven minutes after. Substitute Anthony Martial put the game beyond doubt in the final few minutes of normal time, before Paul Pogba added some deserved gloss to the scoreline shortly after, with a smart finish from just outside the box.

UNITED v WEST HAM: PL RECORD

Games played: 52
United wins: 32
Draws: 13
West Ham wins: 7
United goals: 102
West Ham goals: 46
Top scorer: Wayne Rooney (11).