Gianluca Scamacca, Tomas Soucek and Pablo Fornals axed – West Ham United predicted XI v Southampton
David Moyes could be set to make several changes to his West Ham starting lineup for the big Premier League clash with Southampton this weekend (2 April).
The Hammers head into this game in the relegation zone, one point adrift of safety and with the manager reportedly in fear of his job should they suffer defeat to one of the two teams below them in the table.
But after two weeks off after their Europa Conference League clash with AEK Larneca and an international break, there are some big decisions to be made about the team and how to line up with a win needed.
In goal Alphonse Areola started a host of games after Lukasz Fabianski’s fractured cheekbone injury, and the Poland international was back in training before the break.
However the Frenchman did well in his performances while Fabianski was out and he deserves to keep his spot in the side, despite Moyes’ preference for the former Arsenal man.
Moyes has also pushed along with a back five for a lot of the most recent games, and he’s likely to stick with that despite needing an attacking performance to claim all three points against the Saints.
Nayef Aguerd, Kurt Zouma and Angelo Ogbonna are the most likely trio to start in the middle, and they’ll be flanked by the in-form Emerson Palmieri and the recently fit again Vladimir Coufal in the wing-back positions.
Declan Rice was given the night off in the Europa Conference League last time out but starred for England in their wins over Italy and Ukraine, so should come into this in great form.
Alongside him is likely to be Lucas Paqueta, with the Brazilian still looking to make a really big impression since his club-record move from Lyon. The attacking freedom he’ll be given with the extra defender behind him should suit him well, and against an average side he should be given license to run the game.
In attack Jarrod Bowen found his goalscoring boots with a brace last time out and should be well rested after the last two weeks off, so he should start on the right wing as a big threat to the opposition.
On the left Said Benrahma has been one of the best performers this season for West Ham, and he’s now surely earned himself a guaranteed starter position for the rest of the season at least.
Up front Moyes has got three options in Michail Antonio, Danny Ings and £35m man Gianluca Scamacca.
The Italian got on the scoresheet in appearances prior to the international break but barely featured for his national team and may still be short of full fitness. With Ings in decent form, he’s the most likely to get the nod from Moyes as the number nine.