Haller out in single change: Predicted West Ham starting XI v Man City
West Ham United return to Premier League action on Wednesday night with the daunting task of travelling to face Manchester City.
The champions will be in a fearsome mood, having had their Champions League participation for the next couple of seasons revoked.
You wonder whether the Hammers will feel the brunt of their anger, but this obviously wouldn’t be a good match-up for David Moyes’ side at the best of times.
With the team having had significant time off since the 3-3 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion, the Scot has a decision to make in terms of his starting line-up on Wednesday.
It’s expected that the Irons manager will likely opt for just one change against City, with Pablo Fornals replacing struggling striker Sebastien Haller.
LUkasz Fabianski hasn’t looked 100% back to full fitness over the past month, but he will almost certainly start again here after a couple of weeks off.
Meanwhile, starting right back Ryan Fredericks came back against the Seagulls, and so he will surely start. Meanwhile, Aaron Cresswell can expect to start on the opposite side of the defence.
Issa Diop and Angelo Ogbonna are far from foolproof at centre back, but they’re Moyes’ best bet. Both men will likely start here.
Holding midfielder Declan Rice will almost certainly sit just in front of the defence as usual, with Tomas Soucek and Mark Noble expected to play slightly ahead of him in central midfield.
Robert Snodgrass cannot really be dropped given his current form, and so he will likely play on the right. Meanwhile Fornals will surely come in for Haller to start on the left flank.
That means that Michail Antonio will most probably take the lead up front, using his pace to unsettle the City backline.
In other West Ham news, a former England international has tipped a Hammers star to leave this summer.