West Ham welcome Newcastle United to London Stadium in a huge Premier League clash at both ends of the table.
Victory would see West Ham return to fourth for at least 24 hours, whereas Newcastle can climb as high as 14th with a win and open a seven-point gap above the relegation zone.
Team News
Kurt Zouma is set to be available for West Ham after he was withdrawn from the squad in last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Leicester through illness.
Jarrod Bowen (knock) is also set to be in contention but Angelo Ogbonna and Arthur Masuaku (both knee) remain absent.
Newcastle will be without Javier Manquillo due to an ankle injury suffered in their win against Aston Villa last Sunday.
Jamaal Lascelles (illness) is a doubt but Kieran Trippier (foot), Federico Fernandez (thigh), Jamal Lewis (groin), Isaac Hayden, Matt Ritchie (both knee) and Callum Wilson (calf) remain absent.
Stat Attack
- West Ham have won just one of their last five meetings against Newcastle (W1, D1, L3).
- Newcastle have won three of four visits to the London Stadium (W3, L1).
- Both teams have scored at least twice in four of their last five meetings.
- No West Ham player this season has played more through balls in the league than Pablo Fornals, who has played seven through balls for his teammates.
- One of Newcastle’s three goals from a free-kick this season was scored by Jonjo Shelvey.
Prediction
Having taken an early lead against Leicester, West Ham will be disappointing in how they conceded their lead after failing to convert chances, whilst they also defended well but were sloppy on some occasions which nearly proved costly.
Newcastle meanwhile have nothing to fear coming into this game with a four-point gap to the relegation zone, yet they will need to bring more of the same energetic attacking and defending but their set piece marking still needs improvement despite the loss of Trippier for this game.
Now if both teams bring their best attacking game then we should see goals but I fancy West Ham to get the win here, particularly if they continue play like they’ve done lately at home but this won’t be easy given their form.
Prediction: West Ham 2-1 Newcastle United
Result: West Ham 1-1 Newcastle United
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