Manchester United surrendered a late lead and were held to a 1-1 draw by West Ham United on Thursday evening. Diogo Dalot’s 58th-minute finish, set up after a Casemiro strike deflected kindly, looked to have secured three points until Soungoutou Magassa scored his first goal for West Ham in the 83rd minute. The equaliser followed a goal-line clearance by Noussair Mazraoui that left Magassa to convert the rebound.

The result left Ruben Amorim’s side eighth in the table on 22 points, level with Liverpool and Brighton. A packed Theatre of Dreams expressed their frustration with whistles at the final whistle.

Senne Lammens had little to do but still failed to keep a clean sheet for a seventh consecutive Premier League outing (6.7). At the back, Noussair Mazraoui (7.4) made key interventions while Ayden Heaven looked vulnerable and was withdrawn at half-time (6.2). Luke Shaw struggled with distribution (6.6).

In midfield Bruno Fernandes was the clear driving force, making penetrating runs and finishing with five chances created, the most in the match (8.4). Casemiro’s performance was marred by a number of turnovers, though his effort led to Dalot’s goal (6.9). Dalot’s finish was his first Premier League goal since May 2024 and earned him a 7.7 rating.

Amad Diallo caused problems when advancing (7.3), while Bryan Mbeumo produced moments of promise (6.9). Matheus Cunha had a quiet return (6.1) and Joshua Zirkzee’s influence was limited aside from a big first-half effort that was cleared off the line (6.5).

Substitutes included Leny Yoro (46’, 6.6), Patrick Dorgu (68’, 6.8), Manuel Ugarte (77’, 6.2) and Mason Mount (77’, 6.1). Subs not used were Altay Bayındır, Tyrell Malacia, Kobbie Mainoo and Shea Lacey.

United dominated possession but could not convert control into a win, and West Ham left Old Trafford with a vital point.

Ruben Amorim refused to disclose the identity of two uncertain selections ahead of Manchester United’s Thursday meeting with West Ham United, underlining a tactical caution from the manager. “We have two doubts for the game,” the Portuguese boss said at a press conference on Wednesday. “I will not tell you [who] because we will change the way we are going to approach [the game]. Let’s see if they can play,” he teased.

Amorim added clarity on squad availability: “The rest of the squad is good. Matheus is good. Harry Maguire and Šeško [are out].” Those comments left Cunha as the headline fitness story for United. The Brazilian, signed for £62.5 million ($83.2 million) in the summer, missed the last two games against Crystal Palace and Everton after a training knock that placed him under concussion protocol. He was also forced to withdraw from a local appearance to switch on the Christmas lights in Altrincham, near his home in south Manchester.

Cunha’s importance is underlined by his return to form and prior output. After 21 goals and assists in the Premier League last season for Wolverhampton Wanderers, he has become central to United’s attacking overhaul in 2025–26 alongside Bryan Mbeumo. He scored his first goal for the club in October’s win over Brighton & Hove Albion, and the team has scored 20 times collectively in his last eight Premier League appearances.

Amorim’s suggestion that he might “change the way” his team approaches the fixture points to potential tactical adjustments. The manager’s 3-4-2-1 system has been widely debated and, after a defeat to Everton, he rejected suggestions that he is “fixated” on a singular tactical style in an interview with DAZN Portugal that was published shortly after that loss.

Amorim also referenced a more mobile attacking approach: “We did it against Liverpool, it wasn’t with Bryan Mbeumo, it was with Cunha. And it’s an option that we have,” he insisted. For now, United will enter the clash with two kept doubts and a clearer picture on Cunha’s availability.

Matheus Cunha has confirmed he is back in Manchester United training ahead of Thursday’s fixture with West Ham United. The Brazil international posted a picture from United sessions and thanked supporters before adding, “Back back back.”

Manager Ruben Amorim had recently backed Cunha to rejoin the squad for the West Ham game, and the forward’s social update indicated that timeline was on track.

Amorim also provided a wider fitness update, saying two other regulars will need “a little bit more time” to recover. Striker Benjamin Šeško tweaked his knee before the international break against Tottenham Hotspur. Initial concerns that the big-money summer signing had suffered a serious problem were eased, and Šeško is expected back in action this month.

Centre back Harry Maguire damaged his hamstring during the same game against Spurs and is likewise expected to return later this month. Amorim will be keen to have both players available as the winter fixture schedule intensifies.

United have six games scheduled for December. Three players will be absent for half of those matches, as Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui prepare to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations. The trio will miss meetings with Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Bournemouth before the end of the month, and fixtures against Leeds United and Burnley also come too soon for their involvement.

Any deep progress in the competition would see players involved miss the match against Manchester City on Jan. 17, the date of the third-place playoff. Fitness will also have to be tracked ahead of the trip to Arsenal seven days later.