Mark Lawrenson predicts West Ham United clash v Burnley
Mark Lawrenson has backed West Ham United to only leave Burnley on Sunday with one point in the Premier League.
David Moyes rested a number of his key first-team players in the Europa League against Dinamo Zagreb last night, as it ended in defeat.
Lawrenson believes that tired limbs could still play a part after a gruelling week, predicting it will finish 1-1 at Turf Moor.
Writing in his BBC predictions column this week, Lawrenson believes it won’t be an easy trip to make for the Irons.
“Well, West Ham just keep on going,” he said. “They have now beaten Chelsea and Liverpool, and given Manchester City a proper test – they are not fourth by beating the lower sides, they are beating the teams above them as well.
“David Moyes has got them playing and they have become a team who are really difficult to play against, because they have got a bit of everything – physicality plus flair and ability.
“Their biggest problem right now, especially coming into such a busy period, is running out of steam. They are already short of numbers defensively now Kurt Zouma and Ben Johnson have joined Angelo Ogbonna on the treatment table.
“If there are any tired limbs out there in the West Ham team, it might catch up with them at Turf Moor. Burnley have only won once this season, which is why they are in the relegation zone, but they are usually hard to beat.”
Tired?
Lawrenson clearly didn’t think that Moyes would make as many changes as he did last night against Zagreb, with his predictions coming out before then.
It was brilliant to see so many academy faces in the starting XI and on the bench and despite the result, they all did superbly.
What it did more though was rest the likes of Michail Antonio and a ravaged defence where we can’t afford any more injuries.
It will now be a strong XI taking to the field against Burnley at Turf Moor, and given their form, they won’t want to see that.
Moyes will be demanding nothing less than three points after that big win against Chelsea, with a point simply not good enough if we want to finish in the top four this season – bring it on.
In other West Ham United news, ExWHUemployee has shared what Jesse Lingard and his agent have told the Irons about January
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