Sunderland vs West Ham preview: Team news, line-ups, prediction
West Ham travel to Sunderland for their opening game of the new Premier League season on Saturday.
West Ham go into the new campaign looking to improve on last season’s forgettable 14th-place finish.
Graham Potter has been busy building a squad capable of doing that in the summer transfer window, with several players expected to make their debut against Sunderland.
Sunderland have been incredibly active in the transfer market as well this summer, but Regis Le Bris’ side have struggled in pre-season and are favourites to be relegated after earning promotion via the Championship playoffs last year.
Hermansen, Diouf and Walker-Peters expected to make West Ham debuts
Mads Hermansen signed for West Ham earlier in August and is expected to replace Alphonse Areola for the start of the Premier League season.
El Hadji Malick Diouf, signed from Slavia Prague for £19million, should start at left wing-back, while Kyle Walker-Peters debuts at right wing-back.
That could mean Aaron Wan-Bissaka takes up a new position on the right side of a back three.
Edson Alvarez has been linked with a move away from West Ham, but he could start this match ahead of Freddie Potts.
Meanwhile, Niclas Fullkrug and Jarrod Bowen are expected to spearhead the Hammers attack.
Sunderland have signed 11 new players, with Granit Xhaka and Habib Diarra arguably the pick of the bunch.
Those two will be tasked with marshalling the midfield in a Sunderland side which is almost unrecognisable from the team that started last season’s playoff final.
Predicted Line-ups
West Ham: Hermansen, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Walker-Peters, Alvarez, Ward-Prowse, Diouf, Paqueta, Bowen, Fullkrug
Sunderland: Roefs, Hume, Ballard, Seelt, Reinildo, Xhaka, Diarra, Sadiki, Talbi, Adingra, Mayenda
Prediction: Sunderland 1-2 West Ham
Sunderland will do everything they can to apply the pressure in front of their home fans. However, West Ham should be too strong for them in this match.
Although Xhaka and Diarra could cause problems in midfield, this Sunderland team has struggled to gel in pre-season.
Meanwhile, Potter’s side have picked up some decent results in their friendly matches.
Although the squad still looks a bit short of firepower, they should be able to outscore Sunderland in this game.
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