Manchester United vs. West Brom preview: 5 key factors

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 28: Marcus Rashford of Manchester United during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford on February 28 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 28: Marcus Rashford of Manchester United during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford on February 28 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 07: Jesse Lingard of Manchester United and Craig Dawson of West Bromwich Albion compete for the ball during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford on November 7, 2015 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 07: Jesse Lingard of Manchester United and Craig Dawson of West Bromwich Albion compete for the ball during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford on November 7, 2015 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Manchester United need a victory Sunday over West Brom to maintain their momentum

Manchester United travel to the Hawthorns on Sunday to clash with a West Brom side that’s playing much better football as of late. Both teams will be desperate to take all three points to keep up their momentum for the Premier League season’s stretch run.

Louis van Gaal’s side comes into the weekend riding a two match win streak. The Red Devils find themselves level on points with rival Manchester City for the all important fourth spot in the Premier League table. They will feel as if they must secure a victory over West Brom to keep pace with the Citizens who face off against lowly Aston Villa on the weekend.

West Brom enters the match on their own good run of form. Tony Pulis’ side is unbeaten in their last three Premier League matches and hasn’t lost in five matches at the Hawthorns. They’ll be primed and ready to drag United down into an ugly affair that ends with them protecting their home field and garnering all three points.

The match sets up as a contest between two good teams that are playing some of their best football of the season. West Brom is working to stay out of the relegation zone while United is pushing to assure themselves of Champions League football this season. The football hasn’t always been pretty for these two teams, but they still have a lot to play for. Keep an eye out for these five key factors as you watch the match to give you a clear indication of who will come out on top.

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