In-form Pogba's numbers crunched ahead of West Ham fixture

Nathan Ridley
8 February 2021

Paul Pogba celebrates his goal against West Ham United at the London Stadium

Manchester United will have felt aggrieved after conceding late to draw with Everton at the weekend, but a place in the FA Cup quarterfinals is at stake when they take on West Ham United on Wednesday.

Manchester United were thumped back down to earth at the weekend, as Everton equalised in the 95th minute to deny them going level on points with Manchester City in the Premier League.

Paul Pogba was hauled off prior to half time with a thigh injury, putting his place in the squad for this FA Cup fifth round clash at Old Trafford in doubt.

We'll likely hear news regarding his issue soon but while we wait, we're taking a look back at his previous meetings with West Ham United, who travel to Manchester in terrific form.

Former Red Devils manager David Moyes has taken his Hammers to new heights during his second spell in charge, winning seven of their nine games in 2021.

Now returning to face Man United at the Theatre of Dreams, 'La Pioche' and co will be hoping to send him away not wanting to come back (at least until March 13).

Stat Attack

Pogba has played West Ham eight times during his four-and-a-half seasons at Old Trafford, winning four of those games to give him a 50% win rate, three draws and just one loss being the other half.

In three of those victories, the Frenchman has netted his four goals against the Irons and recorded an assist in one of the draws - more on those involvements later.

Pogba, 27, played a key role in the last round as Man United fended off foes Liverpool 3-2, but now is aiming to help his side extend another cup run and reach round six for the seventh season running.

Hoping to avoid something like the embarrassing handball in the home league fixture last term, the World Cup winner will be keen to impress more like his other past performances if fit.

Let's take a look at his best displays versus West Ham.

Top five performances

Manchester United 4-0 West Ham United

Premier League, Old Trafford

August 13, 2017

Jose Mourinho loved a strong start to the season and in his & Pogba's second of three opening day wins, the Frenchman was fearsome as the Red Devils hammered the Irons in the Mancunian sunshine.

Playing alongside Nemanja Matic in a double midfield pivot, Pogba produced a vintage performance to drive his side to a convincing victory in which Romelu Lukaku bagged a brace on his Old Trafford debut.

The France international capped off a superb showing with a strike in the 90th minute, following an hour-and-a-half of central dominance, illustrated by a sensational six dribbles and two key passes.

Pogba also won three aerial duels in a game which set up a season in which the former Juventus man and his team finished second in the table, 19 points adrift of centurions City.

Manchester United 2-1 West Ham United

Premier League, Old Trafford

April 13, 2019

Just as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's honeymoon period was coming to a halt, the Red Devils had to rely on Pogba dispatching two penalties to earn three points.

Having been beaten 3-1 at the London Stadium earlier in the season, MUFC's number 6 and his teammates got revenge on Manuel Pellegrini's men, who ended up in 10th that term.

Pogba wasn't his spectacular self throughout, with just a 78% pass accuracy and one key pass to his name, but stepped up when it mattered.

No fancy run ups, just two drilled efforts past Lukasz Fabianski.

It was a forgettable season for Man United but their midfield man's 13 goals and nine assists makes 2018/19 his best individual term since returning to the club.

paul pogba west ham united manchester united old trafford goal penalty 2019

Paul Pogba fires in a penalty against West Ham in 2019

Manchester United 1-1 West Ham United

Premier League, Old Trafford

November 27, 2016

A draw for our middle entry now and another fine individual Pogba performance.

In 2016/17 United drew a division high 15 games and even La Pioche's dominant display wasn't enough to stop Slaven Bilic's men from taking a point back home.

Once again star man on whoscored.com, like the two previous entries, Pogba's 8.6 rating came from his excellent assist for Zlatan Ibrahmovic to equalise in the 21st minute after Diafra Sakho's opener on two minutes.

The midfielder huffed and puffed for the rest of the game, with a sizable six aerial duels won and four dribbles completed, supplementing an 88% pass accuracy, but his efforts went largely unrewarded.

West Ham United 1-3 Manchester United

Premier League, London Stadium

December 5, 2020

In this season's sole league meeting between the sides, Pogba and his teammates inflicted capital punishment over West Ham as the Red Devils recovered from a dismal first half to come from behind away from home yet again in this topsy-turvy campaign.

With Moyes appealing for a throw in after Dean Henderson's clearance appeared to go out, the ball found its way to the Frenchman and he unleashed a venomous effort from 25 yards out to equalise.

West Ham United 0-2 Manchester United

Premier League, London Stadium

January 2, 2017

For our final pick, Pogba and co made their first trip to the former Olympic Stadium to start the new year in style.

An early Sofiane Feghouli sending off meant the Irons had to play most of the match with 10 men, and likely went a long way to allowing one of France's finest to be the second best player on the park that evening - according to WhoScored, who rated him 7.7.

David de Gea's heroics kept the Hammers at bay, before Juan Mata and Ibrahimovic netted to take three points up north.

Pogba completed two dribbles, won three tackles and as many aerial duels, while boasting a pass success rate of 88%, which included a key one to aid Man United in a hard-earned win.