Why Lanzini is West Ham’s danger man

Despite laying out £45million on the signing of Sebastien Haller and £25million on Pablo Fornals, it is the return to full fitness this season of Manuel Lanzini that could make the biggest difference to West Ham United’s fortunes.

Having missed most of the 2018-19 campaign with a cruciate ligament injury and subsequent niggles, Lanzini is back to doing what he does best and has created 15 chances in five games – the third-highest of any player in the Premier League so far, just below Kevin De Bruyne (19) and Trent Alexanderarnold (21). Lanzini is West Ham’s real danger man.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side usually line up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, with Lanzini one of the two “eights” alongside Mark Noble, a position that allows him to roam into space protected by his midfield partner and Declan Rice in a holding role further behind.

Lanzini is not the type to make tackles (only three attempted so far), but works hard to win – and keep – possession by attacking loose passes and slack control to steal the ball and drive West Ham up the pitch.

Manchester United are West Ham’s opponents tomorrow and must be extra careful with the ball in the middle third of the pitch. Pellegrini’s team has an average of 47.4 per cent possession this season by design – letting the opponent have more of the ball gives West Ham the chance to exploit mistakes and hit teams in transition.

Lanzini and Noble will look for opportunities to win turnovers in midfield as United bring the ball forward, with Felipe Anderson and Andriy Yarmolenko poised on either wing to spring counter-attacks. By

darting into wide areas to create overloads, Lanzini helps West Ham’s passing go forwards rather than being forced sideways, slowing down play.

The Argentine is incredibly effective in quick moves and can carry the ball at speed to exploit gaps in a defence. Only Wilfried Zaha has completed more dribbles than the West Ham player this season and this ability to go past a man means defending players tend to stand a yard off, which creates space.

That is exactly what happened when Lanzini set up West Ham’s goal in a 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford last season as two defenders, clearly worried about his trickery, allowed him just enough time to send a ball to the back post for Anderson to score. United have been warned.