West Ham United, now under the management of former Chelsea and Brighton manager Graham Potter, face Crystal Palace in the Premier League. Kick-off is at 15:00 at the London Stadium. Last Word on Football brings you a West Ham Predicted Lineup.
West Ham Predicted Lineup vs Crystal Palace
How West Ham Have Lined Up Recently
Despite Potter replacing Julen Lopetegui after six months in East London, the Hammers still lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. The system remains the same but the football is much more fast-paced and attacking.
Lucasz Fabianski remains in goal for West Ham. This has been the case for all of Potter’s matches so far with Alphonse Areola not even making the bench in their last match. Fabianski replaced the injured Areola for nine consecutive matches before getting injured in a 1-0 away win against Juric’s Southampton.
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The back four against Aston Villa was Oliver Scarles at left-back, Max Kilman and Konstantinos Mavropanos as the centre-back partnership and Aaron Wan-Bissaka at right-back. However against Fulham in the league, Emerson returned to full fitness, being positioned at left back replacing Scarles.
Under a 4-2-3-1, Edson Alvarez and Tomas Soucek started as CDMs, with Guido Rodriguez making odd appearances here and there. Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus have played on the wings with Crysencio Summerville slotting in when his side has suspensions or injuries. Lucas Paqueta or Carlos Soler play as the attacking midfielder between the wingers.
Niklas Fullkrug has made appearances up front for the Hammers after coming on as a substitute. He has two goal involvements in nine appearances since joining from Dortmund. Albeit, the German striker has been injured for most of the season and that is the case once again, picking up an injury against Aston Villa in the FA Cup.
West Ham Recent Form
Potter’s first match in charge of the Hammers was a 2-1 away defeat to Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round. Paqueta opened the scoring in the first ten minutes when West Ham went on a quick attack with Summerville cutting the ball back to the Brazilian inside the box. It wasn’t until the 71st minute that the hosts gained an equaliser scoring from a corner that should have been a goal kick, taking the lead five minutes later.
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In Potter’s first league match, however, West Ham beat Fulham 3-2 at the London Stadium. Goals came from Soler, Soucek and Paqueta, with the latter, who started up front in this fixture, scoring in both matches under the new manager so far.
West Ham Injuries To Consider
Potter will have five injuries to consider. Star player Bowen picked up a foot injury in the Hammers home defeat against Liverpool, which rules him out until early March. One player that will be absent for much longer is Antonio, who after his car accident, a return in June looks much more likely.
Two players are doubtful for the match; that being Jean-Clair Todibo and Summerville. Both players are expected to return to full fitness before the end of the month. Fullkrug, who has been riddled with injuries since joining from Dortmund in the summer, is out once again with a hamstring injury, ruling him out until mid-February.
West Ham Predicted Lineup vs Crystal Palace
GK – Fabianski
LB – Emerson
CB – Kilman
CB – Mavropanos
RB – Wan-Bissaka
CM – Paqueta
CM – Soucek
LW – Kudus
CM – Paqueta
RW – Soler
ST – Ings
