Fullkrug axed after angry rant, five changes – West Ham predicted XI v Brighton
Niclas Fullkrug could face the axe from Graham Potter against Brighton after he hit out at his West Ham teammates.
West Ham dropped to 17th place in the Premier League after being held to a 1-1 draw by the already-relegated Southampton at the London Stadium last Saturday, 19 April.
Potter’s side failed to show any promise despite taking the lead through Jarrod Bowen and ultimately paid the price, with Lesley Ugochukwu snatching an equaliser for the Saints.
This led to Fullkrug launching an angry rant on his teammates after the game, much to the surprise of the fans and many others.
Meanwhile, Potter is certain to make a few changes to his starting line-up, as the Irons look to return to winning ways when they visit Brighton on Saturday, 26 April.
Potter to make five changes at Amex Stadium
Therefore, Potter could make as many as five changes to his West Ham starting line-up to face Brighton this weekend.
Vladimir Coufal, Jean-Clair Todibo and Emerson could be dropped after their underwhelming performances against Southampton.
Fullkrug may also face the same fate, although that is likely to be because of tactical reasons, as opposed to disciplinary action.
| Minutes | Assists | Chances Created | Shot Accuracy | Clearances | Duels Won |
| 80′ | 1 | 4 | 1/1 | 3 | 0/4 |
The Germany international was one of the Irons’ better players last weekend, but Potter’s tendency to play a five-man defence in away games means he could be a casualty.
West Ham are likely to favour the counter-attacking prowess of Mohammed Kudus and Bowen, as opposed to Fullkrug’s physicality.
That would allow Potter to switch back to a back-five setup, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Aaron Cresswell, and Oliver Scarles joining Max Kilman in defence.
Meanwhile, James Ward-Prowse could drop out of the midfield, allowing Edson Alvarez to reclaim his place in the starting lineup.
Wan-Bissaka and Alvarez notably missed the game against Southampton due to minor injuries and should be fit enough to start against the Seagulls.
West Ham predicted XI v Brighton
Alphonse Areola will continue in goal, barring any late surprises, with the aforementioned five-man defence providing protection.
The returning Alvarez could be at the base of a three-man midfield, while Lucas Paqueta may drop deeper to play alongside Carlos Soler in Ward-Prowse’s absence.
Finally, Kudus and Bowen could lead the line for the Hammers, with an emphasis on counter-attacks.