Graham Potter must find solution to Crystal Palace ace who could badly hurt West Ham
West Ham host Crystal Palace in the Premier League in desperate need of a victory.
Graham Potter is under pressure as West Ham boss after a disastrous start to the new season, which has seen the Hammers drop into the relegation zone.
West Ham were thrashed 3-0 by Tottenham on Saturday evening, with Tomas Soucek seeing red in the second half, making him unavailable until late October.
Crystal Palace travel to West Ham, having not lost at the London Stadium since 2018, and Potter will need to stifle the threat from an Eagles star to stop that run.
Jean-Philippe Mateta will cause West Ham problems
The Hammers have a dreadful record in the fixture, failing to win their last six against Palace at the London Stadium.
A constant thorn in the East Londoners’ side in recent seasons is Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, who has bagged four goals in his last three games against Potter’s side.
| Jean-Philippe Mateta vs West Ham United (Last 3 games) | Minutes | Goals |
| West Ham 0-2 Crystal Palace | 90 | 2 |
| Crystal Palace 0-2 West Ham | 90 | 0 |
| Crystal Palace 5-2 West Ham | 68 | 2 |
The Frenchman scored twice in a 5-2 victory for the Eagles at Selhurst Park in April 2024, in what was one of David Moyes’ final games in charge before he left the club that summer.
Mateta then repeated the trick just nine months later, scoring twice in a 2-0 win for Palace at the London Stadium in January.
The former Mainz man has become one of the deadliest strikers in the Premier League, with his corner-kick celebration becoming a common site at grounds across the country.
How can Graham Potter stop Jean-Philippe Mateta?
Stopping Mateta has proved to be a serious challenge for most defences ever since Oliver Glasner took charge of the Eagles in 2024.
However, if there is a time to stop the prolific Frenchman, now is the time to do it. Following the departure of Eberechi Eze and the injury to Ismaila Sarr, most of Palace’s creativity has been taken out of the side.
This was seen during the South Londoners’ 0-0 draw with Sunderland last time out, and the Black Cats’ defensive approach stifled them.
Potter can come out on top if he can shut up shop defensively and spring on the counter-attack with Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta.
However, as the home team, the pressure is on West Ham to be on the front foot, and the ex-Chelsea boss could fall into Glasner’s trap while edging closer to the exit door in East London as a result.
Enjoyed this article? Stay connected with all the latest West Ham United news, updates, and behind-the-scenes content by following us on our new Instagram account – @westhamzone247