Lopetegui to axe Todibo after ‘terrible’ situation – West Ham predicted XI v Brentford
Carlos Soler is expected to make his first Premier League start for West Ham United against Brentford on Saturday.
Edson Alvarez’s red card against Liverpool in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup defeat means Julen Lopetegui will be expected to call on the summer signing from PSG for the trip across to West London.
Soler played 78 minutes in a more advanced role but could line up deeper in the midfield alongside Tomas Soucek this weekend, with Jarrod Bowen leading the line up top following Niclas Fullkrug’s Achilles doubts and Danny Ings’ quiet game against his former club.
Lopetegui could make up to six changes from the Anfield reverse, with Alphonse Areola coming back between the sticks for Lukasz Fabianski, and only Max Kilman keeping his place in defence.
Carlos Soler to start for West Ham in the Premier League
The Brentford contest will be Soler’s biggest opportunity yet to stake a claim if he is chosen to play in the central pairing, with Guido Rodriguez having been preferred earlier in the season but to little effect.
The Evening Standard [26 September] also predict the Spanish international will feature from the beginning against Thomas Frank’s side and keep his place from Wednesday.
As Lopetegui deploys the skipper through the middle to spearhead the attack, the opportunity for Crysencio Summerville out on the left-hand side is likely to present itself again, with Mohammed Kudus on the right.
Something has to change in the Hammers team as Lopetegui continues to figure out his most prominent XI – albeit having to contend with injury and suspension woes.
West Ham defence have to do better
After losing comprehensively to Liverpool, West Ham are likely to revert to their back four against Chelsea, though the defending left little joy last weekend either.
Konstantinos Mavropanos has been preferred alongside Kilman in the league despite inconsistencies and should come back in for Jean-Clair Todibo, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Emerson are set to return as the most viable full-back options.
French international Todibo has not covered himself in any glory when he has been called upon by Lopetegui. Although a full game in midweek will help his sharpness, Jamie Redknapp called his defending “terrible” against Liverpool.
Vladimir Coufal is on a steady decline, while Aaron Cresswell got an important 90 minutes at Anfield as he completes his fitness return. Coufal, Cresswell and Todibo are very likely to drop back to the bench.
Eight goals conceded within the past week is unacceptable and changes could be wrung moving forward if a blunted Bees attack have their way at the weekend.
In other West Ham news, Darren Bent has reacted to Tony Cottee’s comments on Lopetegui.
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