Beck Pascal

Thu 14 April 2022 18:53, UK

West Ham have confirmed their starting XI for their Europa League quarter-final second-leg showdown this evening [April 14] against Lyon.

The Hammers will look to see off the Ligue 1 side after a controversial first leg to book their place in the semi-final.

Confirmed prior to kick-off on Twitter, David Moyes decided to replace Aaron Cresswell (suspension) and Kurt Zouma (injury) with Issa Diop and Ben Johnson.

Alphonse Areola also starts in goal in place of Lukasz Fabianski.

Justice.

West Ham have to go out and beat Lyon tonight [April 14]. It would be almost criminal not to reach the semi-final with how close the Irons are to it – especially after the first leg.

Moyes’ side was by far the better team, seemingly dominating Lyon in every area of the pitch until Cresswell was wrongly sent off.

Even then they went 1-0 up at the London Stadium through a Jarrod Bowen being in the right place at the right time.

A win tonight would be a sense of justice because the Hammers could have been two or three to the good travelling to France instead of being pegged back to a 1-1 draw at home.

Cresswell will be a huge miss as will Zouma as he was ruled out for the rest of the season through injury.

Thankfully Issa Diop has proved himself to be a somewhat reliable replacement in the Frenchman’s absence this season and hopefully, he can do it once more as they will need him to be at his best to go through tonight and if they have any chance of lifting the Europa League trophy come to the end of the season.

In other West Ham news, View: Irons ace Michail Antonio has shared embarrassing celebration story ahead of the Lyon clash.

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