West Ham United will be looking to bounce back from their European defeat and a heavy loss to Fulham earlier this season when they take on the Cottagers at the London Stadium in a few hours time.
Moyes could make at least two changes today
The Irons will be keen to avoid a repeat of the 5-0 drubbing they received at the hands of Fulham in December. This fixture serves as a reminder of their vulnerabilities.
We also might be feeling the effects of our recent Europa League exploits, but a chance to break into the top six and secure a Europa League spot next season provides more than significant motivation.
But the return of Edson Alvarez from suspension is a major positive for West Ham. His presence will bolster their midfield.
While Alvarez returns, West Ham remains without Jarrod Bowen, Alphonse Areola, Konstantinos Mavropanos, and potentially or thankfully Kalvin Phillips due to injury. This creates challenges for Moyes in terms of team selection.
We can expect David Moyes to make two changes. Nayef Aguerd is likely to replace the injured Mavropanos, and Alvarez could take Aaron Cresswell’s spot, with West Ham reverting to a four-man defensive line.
While the predicted lineup suggests a return to a familiar formation, there’s a chance Moyes might persevere with the wingback system. Additionally, players like Danny Ings, Ben Johnson, and Maxwel Cornet could be rotated in if the starting eleven begin to flag.
I think we should expect a more patient approach this afternoon. The exertions of the Leverkusen match might necessitate a more measured performance against a more than capable Fulham side.
Neverless, I remain confident that the points will remain in East London