West Ham face a clash with Jose Mourinho and his Man United side at Old Trafford on Wednesday night, for the second time in four days.

The two struggling Premier League sides played out a 1-1 draw in Sunday’s late kick-off which ended with Jose Mourinho sent to the stands after having a fight with a water bottle.

Both sides have had tough starts to the season with both managers under increasing pressure. Both Mourinho and Bilic will be desperate for a big win to finally kick-start a strong run of form in their respective seasons.

The Hammers were knocked out of the League Cup in their first outing in the competition last season at the hands of eventual Premier League champions, Leicester City.

We are bound to see changes from both camps in terms of their starting elevens come Wednesday, with both managers more than likely to field weaker sides. However, Slaven Bilic may want to go all out and get past United with a strong side.

Winning the EFL Cup this season can bring more than just silverware to a side, here are THREE reasons the Hammers need a win this season…

Winning feeling

The EFL Cup is never a priority for clubs in the Premier League, some aim firstly to stay up, for others it is European football or the title.

However, taking the competition seriously, despite giving you more fixtures to contend with, can benefit your side throughout the remainder of the season.

The sense of being a champion that lifting a trophy brings a side can carry them on to greater success further down the line, whether that be in the FA Cup or the league.

They’re due a run

Aside from a few semi-finals here and there, West Ham haven’t been in a League Cup final since 1981, when they lost out to Liverpool in a final replay.
Even after what we saw from Leicester last season, West Ham aren’t going to be challenging for a Premier League title any time soon so a cup run is crucial to the fans.

They need some history

With all that has happened around the London Stadium since the move, the Hammers need some memories to associate with their new home.

The first trophy of the London Stadium era cannot come quick enough for Bilic & Co. and could solve a lot of fan’s grievances related to the new stadium.