Football London
West Ham manager David Moyes has made four changes from the team that dominated in defeat to Spurs earlier this week.
Aaron Cresswell has not been deemed fit following his back injury against Manchester City making it seven matches on the sidelines for the important defender. Despite Ben Johnson’s return to fitness Arthur Masuaku continues in the team but Vladimir Coufal has been recalled following suspension to start on the right.
Ryan Fredericks was named on the bench against Spurs following his own fitness issues but the defender has been overlooked by Moyes with the manager preferring to stick with Masuaku and the experienced Coufal.
Craig Dawson and Issa Diop continue in the heart of the Hammers defence for the fourth match in succession in the continued absence of Kurt Zouma and Angelo Ogbonna.
Behind the defence Lukasz Fabianski comes back into the team with Alphonse Areola dropping to the bench.
Midfield duo Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek continue their regular partnership with the pair expected to start as the defensive screen in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Ahead of the midfield, Moyes has made changes to his attacking quartet with Manuel Lanzini dropping out of the team.
Michail Antonio missed out against Spurs having tested positive for Covid-19 prior to the match and the striker is back in the matchday squad this afternoon’s clash but will start as a substitute.
With Antonio on the bench Jarrod Bowen will continue as the central striker after a fine performance against Tottenham.
Nikola Vlasic impressed in midweek and has been handed his first Premier League start since September as a reward for his performance, he is joined in the attacking midfield roles by the recalled Pablo Fornals and the soon to be AFCON-bound Said Benrahma.
West Ham XI:Fabianski, Coufal, Dawson, Diop, Masuaku, Rice ©,Soucek, Fornals, Benrahma, Vlasic, Bowen
Subs: Areola, Ashby, Fredericks, Johnson, Kral, Noble, Lanzini, Yarmolenko, Antonio
