West Ham United confirmed XI v Everton – Michail Antonio decision made
Julen Lopetegui has made two changes as his West Ham United side face Everton at the London Stadium on Saturday.
The Irons posted on X to confirm their starting XI ahead of their Premier League clash on 9 November, a match which is shaping up to be a crucial one for Lopetegui’s future in East London.
Lopetegui takes Konstantinos Mavropanos out after the 3-0 loss at Nottingham Forest last time out, with Edson Alvarez suspended after his red card at the City Ground.
As a result, Michail Antonio and Tomas Soucek come back into the team, as the under-pressure Spaniard looks to win just his fourth league game in charge against a side two places below them in the table.
Julen Lopetegui’s future could rest on West Ham result v Everton
The Irons continue to change things up from the back three they employed against Forest last weekend, albeit with Lukas Fabianski retaining his place between the sticks ahead of Alphonse Areola.
In defence, Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo are retained despite shipping three goals at the City Ground, while Emerson and Aaron Wan-Bissaka drop into a flat back-four.
Alvarez’s absence in midfield – joining fellow suspended star Mohammed Kudus on the sidelines – sees Tomas Soucek, who missed the Forest defeat with illness, come in alongside Guido Rodriguez.
Lucas Paqueta operated on the right flank of a front three alongside Crysencio Summerville and captain Jarrod Bowen against Forest but looks to be part of the midfield trio with Soucek and Rodriguez.
Bowen and Summerville will instead flank Michail Antonio up front this time around, with the veteran Jamaica striker returning to the starting XI with Niclas Fullkrug still on the sidelines nursing an injury.
Lopetegui’s changes need to click into gear straight away if the Irons are to get a result in this game, and if his side don’t come away with three points, it could be time up for the 58-year-old’s time in charge.
In other West Ham news, Jeff Stelling anticipated a backlash after throwing one name into the hat of potential Lopetegui successors.
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