The catalyst? The controversial red card shown to West Ham creative director Lucas Paquetá during Sunday’s 2-0 home defeat to Liverpool.
Paquetá was sent off in the 84th minute after receiving two yellow cards in quick succession, both for dissent against referee Darren England.
According to competition reportshis first booking came after a verbal protest, but instead of calming down, Paquetá persisted. He continued to argue even after repeated warnings to continue playing, leading to a second yellow and an inevitable straight red.
Lucas Paqueta will miss the match against Man United
In the aftermath, Paquetá addressed the media and supporters and apologized, but with a twist.
He sharply criticized the Football Association (FA), claiming the body had failed to provide “psychological support” during the two-year spot-fixing investigation that engulfed him before he was cleared earlier this year.
He admitted that his behavior was partly caused by the emotional strain of that ordeal.
For West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo, the red card immediately causes a tactical headache. With their most creative midfielder suspended, West Ham will likely have to reshuffle their midfield just as they battle to get out of trouble.
United are confident after beating Crystal Palace
Meanwhile, fresh from a horror away win at Crystal Palace, Man United will see this as a golden opportunity to boost their momentum.
That win, which ended Palace’s nine-month unbeaten run at Selhurst Park, demonstrated United’s ability to get results even when they were not at their smoothest level.
With West Ham likely to come under pressure, both mentally due to Paquetá’s red card and structurally due to a void in midfield, Man United have every reason to believe that discipline, concentration and ruthless realism can deliver three points.
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