Danny Ings axed amid Jarrod Bowen fitness update – West Ham United predicted XI v Bayer Leverkusen
David Moyes could be set to make several changes to his West Ham United starting lineup for the Europa League quarter-final second leg clash with Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday night (18 April).
The Hammers suffered a 2-0 defeat in Germany last week in the first-leg to give the team an uphill battle to reach a third consecutive European semi-final, and followed that up with a 2-0 defeat to Fulham at the weekend.
And the boss will be without key players Lucas Paqueta and Emerson Palmieri for the crunch tie at the London Stadium due to suspension, leaving him with some big decisions to make when it comes to his starting lineup.
Will West Ham go five at the back again?
Lukasz Fabianski looks set to continue in goal with Alphonse Areola still nursing an injury, but the defence in front of him is sure to change a little at least.
Moyes went with a back-five last time out and is likely to do the same again, with Vladimir Coufal starting at right wing-back and Ben Johnson replacing the suspended Emerson on the left.
In the centre Kurt Zouma should return to the team after being rested at the weekend, partnering both Dinos Mavropanos and Nayef Aguerd as the three centre-backs.
In midfield, Kalvin Phillips seems likely to miss out again through injury while Paqueta is suspended, but Edson Alvarez can return after his own suspension from the first leg and should slot into the middle alongside both Tomas Soucek and James Ward-Prowse for their qualities from set-pieces.
With Paqueta suspended and Jarrod Bowen unlikely to make it back to be fit enough to start following his back injury, the front-two will likely pick itself.
Michail Antonio is the first-choice number nine in the squad which should see him start ahead of £15m Danny Ings, with Mohammed Kudus given a free role alongside him as the chief attacking threat.
In other West Ham news, members of the club hierarchy have told David Sullivan to get rid of David Moyes with replacements lined up.
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