West Ham, now under the management of Graham Potter, faces Aston Villa for the second time in three weeks, with this clash coming in the Premier League. Kick-off is at 16:30 at Villa Park. Last Word on Football brings you a West Ham Predicted Lineup.
West Ham Predicted Lineup vs Aston Villa
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 faster-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 game. Fabianski replaced the injured Areola for nine consecutive matches before getting injured in a 1-0 away win against Juric’s Southampton. Fabianski has now made himself the first-choice goalkeeper.
The back four last time out against Aston Villa in the FA Cup 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 and Crystal Palace in the league, Emerson returned to full fitness, being positioned at left back, replacing Scarles.
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Edson Alvarez and Tomas Soucek started as CDMs, with Guido Rodriguez making odd appearances here and there. That being said, it is rumoured that the Argentinian will have his contract cancelled, prompting a move back to a La Liga club. Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus have played on the wings with Crysencio Summerville slotting in when his side has suspensions or injuries. Lucas Paqueta and Carlos Soler play as the attacking midfielder between the wingers. Niklas Fullkrug started in the FA Cup against Villa but was subbed off due to another injury.
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 launched 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, starting up front in this fixture, scoring in both matches under the new manager. His second match in the league didn’t go to plan, however, as Crystal Palace won 2-0 at the London Stadium, with the hosts not offering much in the final third. This moves Palace, who was in a relegation battle a month prior up to 12th, overtaking West Ham. The Hammers’ last away win was on Boxing Day, where they beat Southampton 1-0 under the management of Julen Lopetegui.
West Ham Injuries to Consider
Potter will have five injuries to consider as well as one suspension. Mavropanos is suspended after picking up a second yellow card in the 80th minute in their defeat to Crystal Palace.
As for injuries, both strikers are out with Michail Antonio out until the end of the season after a car accident. Fullkrug will be out until next month due to a hamstring injury. Bowen and Jean-Clair Todibo are expected to return to action in a month after picking up foot and muscle injuries respectively.
West Ham Predicted Lineup vs Aston Villa
GK – Fabianski
LCB – Cresswell
CB – Kilman
RCB – Wan-Bissaka
LM – Emerson
CM – Soucek
CM – Alvarez
RM – Coufal
CAM – Paqueta
CAM – Soler
ST – Kudus
