90min
·25. November 2024
90min
·25. November 2024
Under-pressure West Ham United manager Julen Lopetegui is searching for respite when the Irons travel to Newcastle United in the Premier League on Monday evening.
The Spaniard may only have several games to save his job after a dismal start to his reign, with significant investment in the squad over the summer having had little impact on results. Just three wins from the opening 11 matches of the Premier League season mean the former Real Madrid and Spain coach is leading the sack race heading to Tyneside.
The long journey to a resurgent Newcastle side is the last thing Lopetegui would have wanted. The Magpies have beaten high-flying Chelsea, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest in their last three outings and can surpass the 20-point mark should they taste victory against an out-of-sorts West Ham side.
Kieran Trippier is close to returning / Visionhaus/GettyImages
Eddie Howe has revealed that Callum Wilson and Kieran Trippier are both in contention for West Ham's visit after returning to training. The former has missed the entirety of the campaign, while the latter has been absent since the clash with Everton in early October.
Newcastle find themselves a little short in defence for Monday's match-up with Emil Krafth having joined Jamaal Lascelles and Sven Botman in the treatment room. The Swede has broken his collarbone and will miss the next six to eight weeks, with Dan Burn also suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season before the international break.
Howe has a myriad of attacking options at his disposal, however, with Alexander Isak having scored in five of his last six outings for club and country. Anthony Gordon netted his first England goal against Ireland and could line up on the right-hand side of a front three.
Newcastle predicted lineup vs West Ham (4-3-3): Pope; Livramento, Schar, Kelly, Hall; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Willock; Gordon, Isak, Joelinton.
Alphonse Areola could return between the sticks / Visionhaus/GettyImages
West Ham have almost an entirely fit squad for the trip to Newcastle, meaning there can be no injury excuses for Lopetegui. The Irons boss is still without summer signing Niclas Fullkrug, although he is reportedly making positive developments in his recovery, and Mohammed Kudus is still suspended after his red card against Tottenham Hotspur.
Edson Alvarez was himself suspended for the goalless draw with Everton before the international period but is available in midfield once again. Alphonse Areola could return between the sticks but may have trouble displacing impressive 39-year-old Lukasz Fabianski.
Like Newcastle's Gordon, West Ham winger Jarrod Bowen scored his first England goal in the thrashing of Ireland and will be integral to his side's hopes of securing a positive result.
The Hammers have struggled for clean sheets this term but managed one at Goodison Park. Lopetegui is likely to name the same defensive unit for the trip to Newcastle, with Guido Rodriguez anchoring the back four.
West Ham predicted lineup vs Newcastle (4-1-4-1): Fabianski; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson; Rodriguez; Bowen, Soucek, Paqueta, Summerville; Antonio.
Newcastle are well placed to push West Ham further into crisis on Monday evening. In front of a raucous St James' Park crowd and with confidence high following a purple patch of form, the Magpies should down the disappointing Hammers with relative ease.
West Ham certainly have the potential to make life tough for Newcastle but they have been far too open in defence this term, while also looking relatively blunt in the final third despite some impressive forward options.
With Isak in dazzling form up front, Gordon likely to pull the strings out wide and Bruno Guimaraes primed to boss the midfield battle, Newcastle could well secure a fourth straight victory.
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