West Ham United team news as David Moyes confirms Lukasz Fabianski will start v Backa Topola
Lukasz Fabianski will start for West Ham in their Europa League meeting with Backa Topola, as confirmed by David Moyes.
The Hammers welcome the Serbian club to the London Stadium in their group stage opener on Thursday (21 September).
The 38-year-old has been on the bench for all five of West Ham’s Premier League games this season, with Alphonse Areola the current number one.
“Lukasz Fabianski will play tomorrow night,” said Moyes, as quoted by BBC Sport. “He’s a brilliant goalkeeper and he has been excellent for us at times.
“Lukasz’s form has been so, so good for us in the last few years and he’ll be in goal tomorrow night.”
Roles reversed
Fabianski was very much the number one at the London Stadium last season when it came to the Premier League. And he performed his job at a very high standard, forcing Areola to have to settle for regular minutes in other competitions, such as the Europa Conference League.
Perhaps it was always the plan from Moyes, but the goalkeeping roles have been reversed this season, with Areola now the number in the Premier League, and Fabianski the man for the Europa League.
Both goalkeepers are undoubtedly learning from one another on the training ground, with such competition really good for the players, helping them constantly raise their standards.
It remains to be seen who will join Areola in getting a rest against Backa Topola, with Moyes able to chop and change somewhat thanks to bringing in new faces in the summer transfer window.
The manager will, however, perhaps keep a few regulars in his starting XI in order to get off to the best possible start in Europe.
In other West Ham news, a BBC pundit has shared a “top, top manager” verdict on Hammers boss Moyes.