David Moyes has made two changes to his Premier League team following the 0-0 draw with Southampton last weekend.
The manager made wholesale changes for the mid-week Europa League match against Dinamo Zagreb but has reverted to a more familiar looking league side this afternoon.
Replacing Michail Anotnio upfront with Jarrod Bowen was an enforced change following the striker’s red card against the Saints. With Bowen expected to lead the line, Nikola Vlasic has been given the opportunity to start a Premier League game for the first time since 2018 for Everton.
Kurt Zouma is another man to be making his full Premier Lague debut for the Hammers. The French international was in superb form during the Europa League match and Moyes has opted to keep faith with the former Chelsea defender at the expense of Craig Dawson.
Fellow new arrivals Alphonse Areola and Alex Kral are once again left to wait for a Hammers appearance but both have been named as substitutes for this afternoon’s clash.
Lukasz Fabianski retains his place in goal and will be protected by a defence made up of Aaron Cresswell, Zouma, Angelo Ogbonna and Vladimir Coufal.
Ahead of the back four Tomas Soucek and Declan Rice provide a familiar screen, with the England international once again captaining the side with Mark Noble named on the bench.
The Hammers have a new look attack for this afternoon’s match due to Antonio’s suspension and are expected to start with Bowen through the middle.
The 24-year-old will be supported in attack by Pablo Fornals, Said Benrahma and Vlasic.
Without the key striker West Ham are expected to play on the counter-attack looking to utilise the pace of Bowen behind the likes of Harry Maguire and Raphael Varane.
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West Ham’s bench is a strong one and provides Moyes with options should he wish to change things up tactically. Kral, Areola and Noble are joined by Arthur Masuaku, Ryan Fredericks, Issa Diop, Andriy Yarmolenko and Manuel Lanzini.
West Ham XI: Fabianski, Coufal, Zouma, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Rice, Soucek, Fornals, Benrahma, Vlasic, Bowen,
Substitutes: Areola, Diop, Dawson, Fredericks, Masuaku, Kral, Noble, Lanzini, Yarmolenko