West Ham v Manchester United – Claret and Hugh’s Prediction

Remembering this is the eleven we expect Julen Lopetegui to select – not our own opinion of who we’d choose –  there is a danger of Lopetegui going cautious today when faced with the dilemma of who to play on the left instead of Kudus. In the past when substituting the Ghanaian against Brentford, Lopetegui opted for Carlos Soler as his ‘safe’ bet rather than the natural left-winger replacement in Crysencio Summerville.

Also Lopetegui has to address the awful midfield showing last time out. Doesn’t he? Our hope that Alvarez starts alongside a more mobile Soler and Soucek could be wide of the mark. Lopetegui has shown himself to be reliant upon his favourites so there’s a danger of him again producing Guido Rodriguez who was a ‘Lopetegui’ choice in the summer window.

Paquetá deserves to be dropped to the bench after losing possession so many times against Spurs but again, Lopetegui isn’t usually that bold and especially in this crucial game we’d expect him to keep faith with his Brazilian. Todibo will probably be the ‘fall guy’ at the back and Mavropanos will be recalled in his place..

Areola will sit this one out after his woeful clearances from the back.

Which means that we think Lopetegui will put out a side like this:

Fabianski I Emerson, Kilman, Mavropanos, Wan-Bissaka I Paquetá, Alvarez, Soucek I Summerville, Antonio, Bowen (c)

Please please please keep everything crossed that Summerville starts and we don’t see Soler used as a left winger.

Score Prediction – neither side are good at keeping clean sheets so we’d say 1-1

Just over an hour ’til we find out!

=====================================================

Last week’s prediction V Spurs:

“Areola I Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson I Rodriguez, Soucek, Paqueta I  Kudus, Bowen, Antonio.

Prediction – Spurs win. Sadly. 2-1”

Starting 11 was: Areola I  Emerson, Kilman, Todibo, Wan-Bissaka I Rodriguez, Paquetá, Soucek I Kudus, Antonio, Bowen (c)

Eleven correct. Plus the result- although we only predicted 2-1 win for Spurs and not the 4-1 rout.