West Ham United need a quick upturn in results as the under-pressure Julen Lopetegui will aim to get a win over a resurgent Ipswich Town.
Julen Lopetegui has come under intense pressure following a dreadful start to life as West Ham United’s manager as the East Londoners prepare to host Ipswich Town on Saturday. The Spanish tactician has managed only two victories in eight games across all competitions, with only one of those coming in the Premier League.
Last weekend, Tomas Soucek saved West Ham’s blushes with an equaliser, but Lopetegui needs to formulate a plan to get the right results. The Hammers are only two points away from the relegation zone, meaning another defeat and victories for teams below them could make for a dreadful reading.
The baffling question is how the players of this quality on this side are not able to conjure up decent results. Of course, this is a new team, and some may argue it will take some time to get things rolling. But time may already be running out for Lopetegui, who desperately needs a win over the weekend.
Meanwhile, Ipswich Town are in a resurgent vein of form, heading to the London Stadium to take on West Ham United on Saturday. Kieran McKenna will have been exceptionally pleased with the way his side responded last weekend when they were a goal down against an in-form Aston Villa side but found a way back into the game with two goals from Liam Delap to secure a draw.
The result meant Ipswich are still without a win after gaining promotion to the Premier League. Since losing 4-1 to Manchester City in August, the Tractor Boys have stayed unbeaten in the league, although they did manage to lose against AFC Wimbledon in the EFL Cup on penalties. Since that game, they have managed four draws in the Premier League, including the one against Aston Villa last weekend.
At the start of the season, Ipswich, like the two other newly promoted sides, were pencilled in to stay in the relegation battle; McKenna’s men are showing the most resilient form of the lot. Hence, a win over a troubled West Ham side will be on the manager’s mind, as he could feel the players are entering a good vein of form. With a win, they could climb above the Hammers on the table.
Team News & Tactics
West Ham United
Julen Lopetegui is not expected to make wholesale changes to his setup despite another disappointing result last weekend. He could include the returning Edson Alvarez in his midfield as the Mexican returns from a suspension.
The former Ajax midfielder could take the place of Guido Rodriguez in the central area, while Tomas Soucek and Lucas Paqueta are expected to retain their spots. In defence, Lopetegui handed Jean-Clair Todibo his full debut for West Ham last time out, and the Frenchman might continue alongside Max Kilman in central defence.
Niclas Fullkrug might be out of action for the weekend, meaning Lopetegui will ideally start with Michail Antonio in the striker role. He could also use Jarrod Bowen or even Danny Ings up front, but using the Jamaican will give the team better balance.
Probable Lineup (4-1-4-1): Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson; Alvarez; Bowen, Soucek, Paqueta, Kudus; Antonio
Ipswich Town
Kieran McKenna will have to make some critical selection decisions ahead of naming his side to face West Ham United. For starters, there is a dilemma about whether to change certain vital areas, like the left wing and hand Jack Clarke another start in place of summer arrival Sammie Szmodics.
Chiedozie Ogbene will be in for another start ahead of Wes Burns. Janoi Donacien remains the only absentee for Ipswich Town, although the signs are all there for McKenna to name an unchanged lineup that drew against Aston Villa. Dara O’Shea and Jacob Greaves will be tasked with central defensive duties.
Omari Hutchinson will be eager to get his name on the scoresheet, but McKenna will once again rely on Delap’s prowess to get the job done upfront. Liam Delap will be the go-to man for goals for Ipswich Town against West Ham this weekend.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Muric; Tuanzebe, O’Shea, Greaves, Davis; Morsy, Phillips; Ogbene, Hutchinson, Clarke; Delap
Key Stats
- West Ham United have won their last three matches against Ipswich Town in all competitions.
- West Ham United are winless in their last five games across all competitions.
- Ipswich Town have drawn their last four matches in the Premier League. In addition, the Tractor Boys have yet to win a Premier League game this season.
- West Ham United are unbeaten in 11 Premier League matches versus newly promoted opposition (W9 D2) since a 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest on 14 August 2022. However, the Hammers have failed to keep a clean sheet in 12 consecutive Premier League home fixtures, one short of a club record set in 2008.
- Ipswich Town have scored three Premier League goals inside the opening 15 minutes this season, a tally bettered only by Manchester City.
Player to Watch
Kalvin Phillips
Playing against one of your former sides always tends to make a player turn up, and in this case, Kalvin Phillips will think he does have a point to prove against West Ham United. Last season, he spent the final six months of the campaign with the London outfit, but it turned out to be a disastrous spell, albeit an expensive one for the Hammers.
Phillips has started life well at Ipswich Town on loan for the season, and he is adjusting to McKenna’s demands well. However, he needs a big performance to help his team get further away from the relegation zone, and the English midfielder will be one of the big focuses of this game.
Prediction
West Ham United 2-2 Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town are in fantastic form, the sort of form needed for a newly promoted side to build a base for themselves, especially when they are one of the favourites to go down in May. Under Kieran McKenna, the Tractor Boys have shown plenty of character and adaptability to the Premier League, and their quality will help them stay afloat.
West Ham manager Lopetegui continues to fail in his justification of a big spending spree, as the team looks disjointed. However, they are not ready to win yet. The London Stadium faithful could be in for another uneventful day, as Ipswich Town look certain to snatch another draw on Saturday. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-2 stalemate between the two teams this weekend.