West Ham entertain Bournemouth at the London Stadium as both teams chase an European qualification spot.
Victory would see West Ham stay sixth in the table, whilst Bournemouth can move back up into 12th position with a win.
Team News
Kalvin Phillips could make his debut for West Ham following his loan switch from Manchester City.
Edson Alvarez (calf) and Michail Antonio (knee) could return but Vladimir Coufal is suspended after he was red carded in their 2-2 draw at Sheffield United.
Lucas Paqueta (calf) and Nayef Aguerd (international duty) remain sidelined.
Bournemouth will be without defender, James Hill after he suffered an ankle injury in their FA Cup win against Swansea.
Adam Smith (unspecified) and Philip Billing (illness) could return but Dango Ouattara (fitness), Darren Randolph (illness), Max Aarons (muscle), Ryan Fredericks (calf) and Tyler Adams (hamstring) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
West Ham host Bournemouth at London Stadium in a 7:30pm GMT kick-off on Thursday 1 February, live on TNT Sport 2 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- West Ham are unbeaten in their last five meetings against Bournemouth (W3, D2).
- Bournemouth have won one of their last five league visits to West Ham (W1, D1, L3).
- David Moyes’ Hammers have scored six goals in their last two home games against Bournemouth without conceding (W2).
- West Ham haven’t conceded in their last three league matches at home (W2, D1).
- Bournemouth have claimed four points from their three away trips to London-based top-flight opposition this season (W1, D1, L1).
Prediction
Having had a week-and-a-half off since their scrappy draw at Sheffield United where they twice took the lead in difficult weather conditions only to be pegged back twice, West Ham certainly need to refocus and sort out their recent defensive sloppiness.
Bournemouth meanwhile utterly destroyed Swansea in a five-goal first-half display which will give them proper confidence coming into this game, having been thrashed by Liverpool in their last league outing but I do expect them to face a tougher test against a fresh West Ham team.
Now if West Ham have sorted out their recent dip and Bournemouth can build upon that win despite David Brooks’ surprise loan switch to Southampton, I can see this clash ending in a draw but Brooks will be a pretty big loss tactically for the Cherries.
Prediction: West Ham 1-1 Bournemouth
Result: West Ham 1-1 Bournemouth
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