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It has been a disappointing and frustrating start to Julen Lopetegui’s reign as West Ham United boss with a game against newly-promoted Ipswich Town that is verging on falling into the category of ‘must win’.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 5th October, 2024 - UK – 3:00pm / US ET – 10:00am / US PT – 7:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – USA Network
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – Universo
WEST HAM PREVIEW: NEEDING TO IRON OUT ISSUES
Under the management of Julen Lopetegui, West Ham United have managed just two victories in their opening eight matches across all competitions with just one win in their opening six Premier League matches, that coming by two goals to nil at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace in August.
The Irons have built a squad capable of challenging in European competition this season, in the one season in which they are actually no longer in UEFA competition. Their muddled squad does lack cohesion on the pitch but they did manage a respectable point against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium last weekend.
IPSWICH PREVIEW: FUN TO WATCH
Following back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League, Ipswich Town begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting on four points from their opening six matches and that will be viewed as more than reasonable with their only defeats coming against Liverpool and Manchester City in their opening couple of matches.
The Tractor Boys come into this one on the back of a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa in their most recent outing at Portman Road, last weekend, with a brace from Liam Delap. That followed on from three successive draws against Fulham at home and then on the road down on the south coast against Brighton and Hove Albion and Southampton.
WEST HAM TEAM NEWS: EDSON ALVAREZ RETURN
In his pre-match press conference, West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui has confirmed that German forward Niclas Fullkrug remains unavailable due to injury for this weekend.
Aside from the former Borussia Dortmund man, there are no other injury concerns or suspension issues with Edson Alvarez returning from a ban for this one.
PREDICTED XI (4-1-4-1): Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson; Rodriguez; Bowen, Soucek, Lucas Paqueta, Kudus; Antonio
UNAVAILABLE: Fullkrug (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
IPSWICH TEAM NEWS: CAJUSTE OUT
In the last couple of weeks both Nathan Broadhead and Harry Clarke have returned to full training and could once again be involved this weekend as they seek to regain full fitness.
The Tractor Boys do have a couple of issues and Kieran McKenna has stated there are some ‘fresh knocks’ with summer signing Jens Cajuste missing this weekend due to a ‘little issue with his knee’.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Muric; Tuanzebe, O’Shea, Greaves, Davis; Morsy, Phillips; Ogbene, Hutchinson, Clarke; Delap
UNAVAILABLE: Donacien (Injured), Cajuste (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Clarke (Injured), Broadhead (Injured)
WEST HAM VS IPSWICH PREDICTION
West Ham United have an excellent array of attackers even with the aforementioned absence of Fullkrug. The likes of Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta will see this as a massive opportunity. That said, Ipswich have shown they can pose any team in the division problems and will fancy their chances of getting at a vulnerable Hammers side. Both teams scoring seems a good bet at the London Stadium.
WEST HAM VS IPSWICH TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE