Daniel Lewis

Fri 27 October 2023 16:40, UK

West Ham will aim to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they welcome Everton to the London Stadium on Sunday (29 October).

The Hammers enter the weekend’s action ninth in the table, seven points better off than relegation-threatened opponents Everton.

Preview

After a strong start to the season that saw them win three and draw one of their opening four matches, West Ham have since struggled for form.

David Moyes’ men have lost three of their past five league games, taking just four points from the past 15 on offer.

That includes a heavy 4-1 loss to Aston Villa last time out, which they followed up with a 2-1 defeat against Olympiacos in the Europa League.

United rotated their side for that game in Greece on Thursday (27 October), but Moyes will now be eager to bounce back from successive losses.

Everton at home presents a good opportunity to do just that as the Toffees have won just two of their nine Premier League matches this season.

Those two victories have come in their past four outings, though, while they were perhaps unfortunate to lose 2-0 at Liverpool last weekend.

It has been an emotional week for the club off the field as chairman Bill Kenwright passed away at the age of 78.

That is not to mention the uncertain takeover situation, plus the threat of a potential 12-point deduction if found guilty of breaching FFP rules [The Telegraph].

All Sean Dyche’s side can do for now is pick up points on the field in the hope of putting distance between themselves and the bottom three.

Form guide (Premier League)

West Ham: WLLWDL
Everton: DLWLWL

Head-to-head (past five meetings, all comps)

West Ham 0-1 Everton (9 May, 2021)
Everton 0-1 West Ham (17 October, 2021)
West Ham 2-1 Everton (3 April, 2022)
Everton 1-0 West Ham (18 September, 2022)
West Ham 2-0 Everton (21 January, 2023)

Team news

Everton remain without long-term absentees Dele Alli, Andre Gomes and skipper Seamus Coleman, although the latter is fast closing in on a return to action.

Ashley Young is the other absentee for the visitors due to his sending off against Liverpool last weekend, likely opening the door for Nathan Patterson to come into the side at right-back, with Vitalii Mykolenko on the opposite flank.

Dyche is expected to stick with his central midfield three of James Garner, Amadou Onana and Abdoulaye Doucoure, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin – enjoying an injury-free streak – should again lead the line.

As for the Irons, Moyes has a big headache in the full-back positions as Emerson Palmieri is definitely ruled out after accumulating five yellow cards, while Vladimir Coufal missed the midweek trip to Greece with a minor muscle injury.

Aaron Cresswell and Ben Johnson are on standby, but Moyes will give Coufal every chance of being available.

After making seven changes against Olympiacos, West Ham will otherwise be close to the XI that started against Villa last week, although Michail Antonio’s place in the side is surely at risk after a bad run in front of goal.

Predicted lineups

West Ham: Areola; Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Cresswell; Alvarez, Soucek; Kudus, Ward-Prowse, Paqueta; Bowen
Everton: Pickford; Patterson, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; McNeil, Garner, Onana, Harrison; Doucoure; Calvert-Lewin

Where to watch?

The match at London Stadium kicks off at 1pm GMT on 29 October and will be live on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra HDR, as well as the Sky Go app.

Prediction: West Ham 1-1 Everton

This is a big game for both sides, with each looking to get back to winning ways.

West Ham have struggled for any real momentum in terms of results over the past six weeks or so, while Everton have just simply struggled for wins full stop.

A quick turnaround in games for West Ham certainly will not help, and we can see them being held by lowly Everton on home soil this weekend.

In other West Ham news, Roshane Thomas expects two players to depart the London Stadium at the end of the season.