Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen and welcome to our live text commentary of Manchester United's visit to Upton Park for a clash with West Ham. I'm Shane and I'll be taking you through all the action as both sides look to boost their top-four prospects with victory.

It's eighth versus fourth and victory would see the Hammers leapfrog Liverpool to move just four points adrift of the Champions League qualification places. Sam Allardyce in the Champions League? I can't decide whether that's brilliant or bizarre, or perhaps a combination of both - and it's far from impossible.

But let's not get too far ahead of ourselves, because defeat against a very good Red Devils side would see them remain seven points adrift of the top four and, with so many teams vying for it, you wonder if their Champions League credentials hinges on beating United here this afternoon. It's a daunting task and here is why:

Louis van Gaal's side have lost just one of their last 16 games in all competitions - a 1-0 defeat to Southampton last month - and they have won 11 of those. They have responded well to that blip against the Saints; beating QPR 2-0 a week later before dispatching Leicester 3-1 last Saturday. They're in fantastic form and Allardyce's troops will have to be at their best to slow their momentum once more.

Big Sam's boys are quite a formidable prospect at home, though. They have lost just one of their last 10 games at the Boleyn Ground; winning seven of those, with their only defeat coming in a 2-1 reverse to Arsenal over the Christmas period. Lest we forget that they have also recorded victories over Manchester City and Liverpool here at Upton Park, so an away win is far from a foregone conclusion today, my friends.

Right, enough small talk. Let's bring you some team news, shall we? I'll have this in the coming minutes, but first check out what the boys at Sports Mole HQ have had to say about this clash.

WEST HAM XI: Adrian, Jenkinson, Tomkins, Kouyate, Cresswell, Song, Noble, Nolan (c), Downing, Sakho, Valencia

MAN UNITED XI: De Gea, Valencia, Jones, Rojo, Shaw, Blind, Rooney (c), Di Maria, Januzaj, Van Persie, Falcao

WEST HAM SUBS: Jaaskelainen, O'Brien, Oxford, Amalfitano, Jarvis, Cole, Lee

MAN UNITED SUBS: Valdes, McNair, Smalling, Herrera, Mata, Fellaini, Wilson

Right, let's start with the visitors and I can tell you that Van Gaal makes no fewer than five changes from their 3-0 win over Cambridge United in midweek.

Firstly, Antonio Valencia, Phil Jones and Luke Shaw return to displace Paddy McNair, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evan respectively, while Adnan Januzaj and Radamel Falcao also come back into the fold in place of Juan Mata and Marouane Fellaini. Falcao partners Robin van Persie up top.

Likewise, it's also five changes by Big Sam from their 2-0 defeat at Liverpool last weekend.

Winston Reid and James Collins are forced out through injury, and Joey O'Brien drops to the bench as Carl Jenkinson - who celebrates his 23rd birthday today - James Tomkins and Cheikhou Kouyate join left-back Aaron Cresswell in defence. Mark Noble also returns to replace Morgan Amalfitano and partner up with Alex Song in midfield, while Andy Carroll drops out for Diafra Sakho, who partners Enner Valencia in attack.

The eagle-eyed among you will have noticed the inclusion of youngster Reece Oxford on the bench once more. With Collins and Reid out injured, it was suggested that the 16-year-old (who was born in 1998. Do you feel old yet?) could earn a place in the first XI, but he's only on the bench. Still, an appearance would see him become their youngest ever player, so well done to him.

1998 though? I spent that year playing Golden Eye on the N64 I believe, and when I was Oxford's age I was drinking cider on football pitches, but that's another story. What were you doing when you were that age? And if you're not that age yet then cherish your youth because, like Man United's glory years, they'll be gone before you know it! On a less erratic note, let's have a look at who the danger men are today.

So, who's the danger man for the visitors this afternoon then? Well it's very much a case of take your pick, with Angel di Maria, Radamel Falcao and Robin van Persie all included today. But Wayne Rooney, for instance, has netted 10 Premier League goals against West Ham. He won't be playing up front today, but does it matter when you're capable of scoring from areas of the field such as this? Different class this.

And who can the Hammers look to for a bit of inspiration? Well, Sakho returns to action in place of the injured Carroll, and with eight goals, he is certainly one who the Red Devils just have to look out for. But is West Ham's goal threat rooted to what happens a little further back? Alex Song has been fantastic this season and, oddly, completes more passes per game than Chelsea's Nemanja Matic. He's not going to get a goal, but he will get through plenty of defensive work and constantly feed the Irons' attack. He has a big role today.

We should note that West Ham's first XI might have included Darren Fletcher and Emmanuel Adebayor had they got their way in the transfer window, with negotiations over Fletcher breaking down after reportedly failing his medical, while Spurs chairman Daniel Levy blocked Adebayor's deadline day move to Upton Park.

It was the latter which caused particular upset in the club's hierarchy, with co-owner David Gold tweeting "don't go to bed" before the window closed, so he was obviously expecting a move to materialise. I'm an Arsenal fan myself so I can assure all of you distraught Hammers out there that Adebayor isn't worth the tears. He'd have already had a bust-up with somebody.

PREDICTION: Alright we're five minutes from kickoff in East London, so let's get a prediction completely wrong shall we? Okay. I'm going for a 3-1 United win. I think this is a critical stage in West Ham's top-four bid, and I think we'll see further evidence that they're out of their depth. Falcao, van Persie and Rooney to score.

Right, both sets of players are led out of the tunnel by Mark Battenberg to the sound of the home fans singing passionately. We're three minutes from kickoff!

RESTART! Aaaaaaaaaaaaand we're off in East London, my friends. Man United, wearing their white shirt, get us underway. Let's go.

Man United win a free kick in a decent position now after Alex Song brought down Adnan Januzaj. Should've been a yellow to be fair, but Wayne Rooney floats a free kick into the area and Adrian comes to collect. Disappointing ball in there.

Really good work from Stewart Downing now as he beats Marcos Rojo before fizzing what seems a decent ball into the box, but Sakho nor Enner Valencia bothers to attack it and David De Gea collects.

Alex Song is the most relieved man in London at the moment. He's just played a suicidal ball to Van Persie in West Ham's box, but Tomkins gets back in time to thwart the Dutchman before he can pull the trigger. Former Arsenal teammates of course so perhaps he just forgot that they're not on the same team anymore.

David De Gea takes a leaf out of Song's book and plays a shocking free kick straight to an opposition player, but Sakho is gobbled up by Phil Jones before he can do anything with it. United fans will hope that Florentino Perez saw that.

Barring that early error from Song, he's been fantastic; the hub of everything for West Ham in this first 11 minutes or so. We said he had a big role to play today and so far he's thriving. Excellent.

SAVE! What a save this is. De Gea beats away Enner Valencia's initial shot, but United fail to clear their lines from the resulting corner and Valencia looks to poke home, but the Spaniard tips it over the bar. Excellent save. United fans will hope that Florentino Perez has turned off before seeing that.

West Ham are in complete control here as Mark Noble and Downing swing in two beautiful crosses but there's nobody on the end of either. It's an important stage in the game for the visitors, who must weather this storm.

It's been a game of two defences so far, with United's back four far more busy than West Ham's by virtue of the hosts' dominance in the first 20 minutes. Some possible bad news for West Ham as Enner Valencia goes down injured.

He's back on his feet, but the Ecuador international is still walking a little gingerly. He might be able to run it off but let's see.

We had seen virtually nothing of Angel di Maria in the first 25 minutes until a moment ago, but he comes to life, skipping past a few challenges before feeding the ball out wide to Van Persie, whose subsequent cross is over everybody. They have a corner now, though, but Adrian comes to collect.

Oh this might've led to something. West Ham break from that resulting corner, and Valencia's final ball to Diafra Sakho might've been better as the Senegal international looked to be lining up a shot. It's a warning sign for Man United, though.

We haven't much by way of clear-cut chances, but it's been a very good first half-hour of football so far. It's delicately poised. The home side are the better team so far, but you wonder if West Ham can sustain this for 90 minutes though. That's the big doubt I'd have over them as the games progresses.

Boos ring around Upton Park now after Mark Clattenburg fails to book Robin van Persie for an earlier infringement on James Tomkins, which left the West Ham defender clutching his face on the ground. It was just a harmless arm to the face in an aerial duel, the like of which you see about 50 times per game. Nothing incident.

CHANCE! 32 minutes in and we could, and should, have seen the opening goal. It's a wonderful free kick into the box by Aaron Cresswell, and Tomkins somehow finds himself with a free header, but De Gea saves with his feet. Another decent save.

14 of West Ham's goal this season have come from corners, and you can see why because they're winning each and every corner that is swung into the danger zone. It's certainly something that Van Gaal will need to address at the break.

Alex Song really is a classy operator. He has just made a mug of Daley Blind with a wonderful bit of skill. He's been really, really impressive in this first half.

As good as the Cameroonian has been, he is prone to a few brainless moments and he's just set up a United counter-attack after his silly back-heel was pounced on by Di Maria.

SHOT! I think this might be United's first attempt, as Di Maria lines up a shot from about 25 yards but Adrian gathers. Moments earlier, the hosts had a three-on-two position, but Enner Valencia's final ball was dreadful and De Gea snuffed out the chance.

BOOKING: Marcos Rojo goes into the book for fouling Diafra Sakho in an earlier incident. Right decision. United are finishing the half on top and they'll will whip in a corner now...

But it's not a great ball from Di Maria as it curls out of play. The Argentine has had a poor first half by all accounts. Not many attacking players for the visitors can claim to have a good half actually.

Very decent first half by my reckoning, even if it is goalless at the break. Man United finished the half on top, but other than that it's been all West Ham, who have goalkeeper David De Gea to thank for keeping them out after the Spaniard made a host of decent saves.

De Gea kept out two efforts from Enner Valencia, with the second of those particularly impressive, while he also saved from James Tomkins's header. But if you want a compressed account of that first 45 then just click here for our HT report.

RESTART! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're back. West Ham, playing from left to right in this half, get us underway once more. Will we see goals? If so, for who? These are the key questions that we'll get answers to. Stay tuned.

Are Alex Song and Daley Blind defensive midfielders? They've both just produced moments of minor brilliance with a couple of tricks. Fantastic.

Well, it's been coming hasn't it - but it was worth the wait! What a finish from make-shift centre-back Cheikhou Kouyate, who swivels Phil Jones and volleys home from inside the box. Brilliant. It came from a set piece believe it or not, so whatever LVG did during the break - if anything at all - has not worked.

SHOT! Welcome to the game Mr Falcao, who puts an anonymous first half behind him and nearly draws level with an excellent effort, but it curls just wide.

SHOT! Really good response from United since falling behind, as Di Maria plays in Van Persie now, but it's on his weaker right foot and his half-volley is well saved by Adrian.

West Ham just have to weather what will probably a five or 10-minute storm of United pressure now. They'll come on stronger and it's really quite vital for their top-four hopes to keep them out. They'll move four points adrift of the top four with victory!

Brilliant block by Tomkins as Januzaj plays in Van Pesie, who takes a touch for some reason and Tomkins is across to avert the danger. United growing stronger with each and every failed attack.

Cheikhou Kouyate is back on the field after receiving a bit of treatment following a collision with Luke Shaw. They can't afford another centre-back injury because the alternative is 16-year-old Reece Oxford, who is surely too young to come on in these circumstances.

United have looked good since falling behind, really good actually, but you still wouldn't rule out another for West Ham. They've got so much speed on the counter-attack, and they're also so dangerous from set pieces.

CLOSE! This is so, so close. It's a terrible cross from Jenkinson, but it nearly deceives De Gea and nestles in the net but the cross-come-shot drifts just wide of the far post in the end. You need only see De Gea's face to understand how close it was.

Excellent header from Jenkinson as Van Persie looks set to head home Di Maria's corner. United had gone a little quiet in recent minutes but they're back on song now.

If anybody wants an official Premier League football then there's one sitting outside Upton Park now because Januzaj has just volleyed it out of the stadium. Act quick if you want it though.

SHOT! West Ham now back on top after Jenkinson saw his deflected shot glide just wide. The Arsenal loanee has been in the thick of it recently. 20 minutes left.

Decent counter-attack by West Ham as Downing plays in Sakho, but his first touch is far too heavy and it takes him away from goal and nothing comes from his cross. Very mixed bag for Sakho this afternoon.

MAN UNITED SUB: We've seen our first sub, with Marouane Fellaini replacing the ineffective Januzaj.

BOOKING: It's 1-1 in the yellow card stakes as Alex Song goes into the book for a foul on Wayne Rooney. Mind you, it looked a good challenge. Di Maria is lining up the shot now...

OVER THE BAR: And his subsequent free kick flies well over the bar. Time is running out for the Red Devils. Will they snatch an equaliser?

CHANCE! Oh my. What a fine chance this is from Radamel Falcao. He's through one-on-one with Adrian after a clever one-two with Van Persie, but the Spanish keeper is quick off his line to pressure him and he blazes wide. Good pressure from Adrian, but it still certainly should be 1-1. Poor.

CHANCE! The chances are coming thick and fast now as Marouane Fellaini heads over following a bit of head tennis in the box. He might've done better. Incidentally, Adrian was booked after complaining of being fouled in the build-up to the chance.

CHANCE! Another good chance goes begging as Van Persie fires straight at Adrian following Falcao's ball. Really poor finished.

WEST HAM SUB: The Hammers look to batten down the hatches now as Matt Jarvis replaces Enner Valencia, who's been brilliant to be fair.

Sakho does brilliantly here to win a corner off Rojo, and that'll eat up a little more time. Five minutes left, plus another three or four added on.

CHANCE! This was a brilliant chance as Noble side-foots Downing's cut-back straight at De Gea, who always saves the rebound. That was the game. How crucial will that miss prove to be?

SAVE! If West Ham cling on here then Adrian deserves a huge piece of credit, because he's just made a fantastic save to push away Fellaini's effort. He's been excellent in this second half and my man of the match.

United have a free kick right on the edge of the box now and it's probably too close if anything. Who's going to take it? It looks like Rooney. We're in the second of four minutes added on.

So cruel for West Ham, who were about 120 seconds away from a huge win over United. Rooney's free kick came to nothing, but the ball is sent back into the box and Jenkinson fails to head away to safety, and Blind is on hand to caress it into the net. Good finish.

RED CARD: United will finish with 10 men after Luke Shaw picked up his second yellow. Surely it's too late to make a difference?

That's it, my friends. Daley Blind rescues a point for the Red Devils in the final few minutes of the game after Cheikhou Kouyate volleyed the hosts into the lead.

That's all we've got time for this evening folks. Three Premier League games today and three draws! Who would've guessed. Anywho, cheers for joining us and enjoy the rest of your Sunday. Good evening.