Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Under the management of David Moyes, West Ham United come into this on the back of back-to-back 1-1 draws against Chelsea and Newcastle United. The Hammers are in a genuine relegation battle, despite reaching the fifth round of the FA Cup and the knockout stages in the UEFA Europa Conference League.
The Hammers have been a bit confusing in their team selection with the squad built to be an impressive three at the back with flair players such as Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta supposedly set up in free roles behind the striker but Moyes has switched to a back four quite a few times throughout the campaign.
They are expected to persist with the back three that earned them a point in their aforementioned London derby with Chelsea last week. Due to injuries to both Kurt Zouma and Nayef Ageurd, as well as the January transfer window sale of Craig Dawson, they are a bit short in the centre of defence. Ben Johnson is likely to have to start in the back three alongside Italy international Angelo Ogbonna and Germany’s Thilo Kehrer.
The wing-backs for this system will continue to be Vladimir Coufal, who is in poor form but Johnson is being forced to play in the back three, and Emerson Palmieri, who is in fine form having scored the equalising goal last week as he keeps Aaron Cresswell out of the side.
Flynn Downes and Pablo Fornals have found starting minutes difficult to come by so the impressive Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek appears to be the nailed on midfield partnership.
Lucas Paqueta is injured so won’t be able to fill one of the aforementioned free roles behind the striker so Mohamed Said Benrahma is expected to get in the nod alongside Jarrod Bowen, who is beginning to show signs of improvement after a slow start to the Premier League campaign.
Gianluca Scamacca would ideally be the number nine for the two number tens to play off but the Italian has struggled with injuries and game time this season and he is, once again, a doubt for the match. Michail Antonio is, therefore, expected to start up-front but January arrival Danny Ings will be chomping at the bit for his first West Ham start.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Fabianski; Kehrer, Ogbonna, Johnson; Coufal, Soucek, Rice, Emerson; Bowen, Benrahma; Antonio
UNAVAILABLE: Zouma (Injured), Paqueta (Injured), Cornet (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Areola (Injured), Aguerd (Injured), Scamacca (Injured)