West Ham United will host Everton at the London Stadium on Saturday, and both teams will be desperate to bounce back to winning ways.
West Ham United have been quite inconsistent this season, and they have picked up just two wins from the last six matches in all competitions ahead of the visit of Everton to the London Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
On the other hand, the Toffees are in similar form, and they have picked up just two wins from the last six outings as well. This is likely to be a cracking contest between two evenly matched sides.
Meanwhile, West Ham United have picked up four wins from the last six meetings against Everton, and they will certainly fancy their chances against the Toffees at home. Both teams are separated by just two points in the table, and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.
West Ham and Everton will be looking to preserve their status as top-flight clubs this season, and they need to start picking up points now. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
West Ham United
West Ham United will be without Niclas Fullkrug, who has a calf injury. Meanwhile, Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez are suspended. The Hammers will shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Alphonse Areola in goal.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Emerson Palmieri will start as the full-backs. They will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. Max Kilman will start alongside Jean-Clair Todibo at the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Guido Rodriguez will start alongside Carlos Soler in the double pivot. They will look to add defensive cover and creativity to the side. Lucas Paqueta will start in the central attacking midfield role, and he will look to create goalscoring opportunities with his passion, vision and link-up play.
Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville will start in the wide areas. They will look to add creativity and goals from the flanks. Michail Antonio will lead the line for West Ham United against Everton.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Kilman, Todibo, Emerson; Rodriguez, Soler; Bowen, Paqueta, Summerville; Antonio
Everton
Everton are without Armando Broja because of a calf injury, Youssef Chermiti due to an ankle injury. Tim Iroegbunam is out due to an ankle injury, while Seamus Coleman has a thigh issue, and James Garner misses out with a lower back injury.
The Toffees will shape up in a 4-4-1-1 formation, with Jordan Pickford in goal. Nathan Patterson and Vitaliy Mykolenko will start as the full-backs. They will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. James Tarkowski will start in the central defensive pairing alongside Jarrad Branthwaite.
Jack Harrison and Dwight McNeil will start in the wide areas. They will look to add pace and flair from the flanks. Abdoulaye Doucoure and Idrissa Gueye will start in central midfield pairing, and they will look to add defensive cover and drive to the side. Beto will start in the number ten role, behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who will spearhead the Everton attack against West Ham.
Probable Lineup (4-4-1-1): Pickford; Patterson, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Doucoure, Gueye, McNeil; Beto; Calvert-Lewin
Key Stats
- West Ham United have picked up just two wins from their last six outings.
- Everton have picked up just two wins from the last six outings.
- West Ham have won four of their last six meetings against Everton.
- 12 goals have been scored in the last six meetings between West Ham and Everton.
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s tally of six goals in all competitions against West Ham United is his highest return versus any opponent
Player to Watch
Jarrod Bowen
The West Ham United winger is our key player to watch out for this weekend. In the absence of Mohammed Kudus, Bowen will be expected to step up and create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates. The Englishman will need to get on the score sheet as well.
West Ham will be without summer signing Niclas Fullkrug here, and Michail Antonio has not been at his best for a while. They will need a Bowen to chip in with goals and creativity. Considering the English international’s record against Everton — he has has scored three goals and provided two assists in his last six league outings against the Toffees — a solid game is on the cards.
Prediction
West Ham United 1-1 Everton
Both teams are in similar form right now, and this is likely to be a close contest. Neither side will want to end up with a defeat, and a cautious approach is likely. Both teams are quite evenly matched, and it will be difficult to separate them. They are likely to cancel each other out and share the spoils here. A goalscoring draw is on the cards.
