Kurt Zouma and Edson Alvarez axed in major David Moyes gambles – West Ham United XI v Burnley
David Moyes’ confirmed West Ham starting XI has been released by the club ahead of kick off against Burnley and the Scot has taken a definite risk.
Following the 1-0 defeat at Freiburg in midweek (7 March) the Hammers boss has made four changes, which has included dropping captain Kurt Zouma and senior midfield man Edson Alvarez to the bench for Nayef Aguerd and Kalvin Phillips.
Cup keeper Lukasz Fabianski comes out as expected for Alphonse Areola, while Emerson’s injury has kept him out so it is a rare start for Aaron Cresswell at left-back.
With the Clarets having a miserable campaign back in the Premier League Moyes appears to have taken the opportunity to hand January loan signing Phillips a possible confidence-booster after his nightmare start since arriving from Manchester City.
Similarly, Zouma has not looked at his best of late, even as results have started improve in the top flight, so the West Ham boss presumably feels resting him and Alvarez is least likely to be punished by the weakest side in the league.
If any opposition would allow a manager to shuffle his options and not be punished it probably is Burnley right now, but if the visitors do find a way to capitalise on any further misfortune for Phillips, or rust from Aguerd, it would be disastrous for Moyes, especially since he drove the pursuit of the former.
He has been under major pressure in recent months and a slip against the struggling promoted side would heap more on his shoulders, so it is a high-risk strategy, but if it helps get the best out of the winter signing it could also bring high rewards.
Kalvin Phillips must grasp West Ham opportunity vs Burnley
Two vital Premier League wins have lifted some of the gloom that was starting to engulf the Hammers since the start of 2024, but the European defeat in midweek was a setback.
Moyes needs to take full advantage of the fact that Vincent Kompany’s side are in such bad form off the back of four-straight defeats while scoring just a single goal.
Whether the Scot ends up being awarded a contract extension or not there is still plenty to play for this season, and if he can ensure the dirge through January and February has been consigned to the past it would at the very least mean he could depart with fans focused on the positives of his reign rather than the negatives.
So he will need to have got his selection right at the London Stadium since anything other than a comfortable victory against the league’s bottom side is likely to put him in a negative spotlight once again.
In other West Ham news, the Irons look set to battle Chelsea in the hunt for a pair of mutual transfer targets.
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