West Ham United welcome Crystal Palace to the London Stadium in a London derby as both teams look to continue their top ten challenge.
A win for West Ham could temporarily lift them third if results elsewhere go their way, although Palace could leapfrog their London rivals with victory to enter the top five.
Team news
Lukasz Fabianski has been ruled out for West Ham until at least December with a hip injury picked up during last weekend’s draw at Bournemouth.
Winston Reid (knee) and Michail Antonio (thigh) both remain absent although Reid’s recovery is suffering setbacks from minor muscular injuries.
Crystal Palace will be without Luka Milivojevic who is suspended after picking up his fifth booking of the season last time out against Norwich.
Mamadou Sakho is still sidelined with a muscular injury whilst Connor Wickham is doubtful as he continues his comeback from an ankle injury.
Form
West Ham are unbeaten in their last six league games with three wins and draws apiece, as Andriy Yarmolenko and Aaron Cresswell both scored in the Hammers last two matches which ended in 2-0 victories.
Crystal Palace have earned ten points from their last five league games but have won one of three away games this season, with both away goals coming in a 2-1 win over Manchester United on the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Stat Attack
- West Ham have lost just one of their last ten against Crystal Palace (W5, D4, L1), although three of the last four meetings have finished level.
- The away team opened the scoring in both meetings last season, as West Ham won 3-2 at home before drawing 1-1 at Palace.
- Mark Noble has scored two penalties in two of the Hammers’ last three clashes with Palace.
- Both teams have kept three clean sheets in their seven league games this season.
- Noble has only had one shot off target for West Ham this season, whereas Cheikhou Kouyate has put eight of his shots off target for Palace.
Prediction
Both teams have made great starts to the season so we are in for a cracking match up here between two tightly matched teams, which will place more emphasis on defending because I can see an open attacking game here.
Palace however are a slight concern because they have only scored twice on the road this season, and if they perform like they did in their 4-0 beating at Tottenham then the Hammers should take a comfortable win.
I am however going for a draw because that seems to be the current norm in this fixture.
Prediction: West Ham United 2-2 Crystal Palace
Result: West Ham United 1-2 Crystal Palace
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