Maxwel Cornet to make first start since September as David Moyes makes wholesale changes – West Ham United predicted XI v Crystal Palace
David Moyes could be set to make wholesale changes to his West Ham United squad for Sunday’s clash against Crystal Palace at the London Stadium with Maxwel Cornet in line for a surprise start.
The Hammers will be looking to make it three wins from three in the Premier League when they host an Eagles side without a win since the start of November at the London Stadium on 3 December.
West Ham enter the contest off the back of a crucial win against Backa Topola on Thursday, securing their place in the Europa League knockout rounds after Tomas Soucek’s late winner.
However, the performance on Thursday left a lot to be desired for which Moyes could be forced into several changes, with the likes of Said Benrahma, Pablo Fornals, and Divin Mubama axed from the line-up.
In goal, Alphonse Areola will be expected to return in goal despite Lukasz Fabianski’s goalkeeping heroics in Serbia on Thursday.
In defence, Moyes could be set to make as many as three changes. Vladimir Coufal missed the Backa Topla clash through illness but should pull through for Sunday’s game.
Kurt Zouma and Emerson should return with the likes of Ben Johnson, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Aaron Cresswell dropping out while Nayef Aguerd keeps his place in the team.
In midfield, Moyes will be inclined to keep it as it is but hand a start to Edson Alvarez who also missed out against Backa Topla through illness.
The Mexican international should line-up alongside matchwinner Soucek who’s in tremendous form right now with five goals from his last five games in all competitions, with James Ward-Prowse keeping his place.
Against a Palace team who are dangerous in transition, Moyes will be tempted to try a midfield trio of Alvarez, Soucek and Ward-Prowse to sure up the middle of the park.
However, it’s in the West Ham United attack where Moyes will be in for some tough choices.
Star man Jarrod Bowen is set to be assessed for Sunday’s game after suffering a knee injury on international duty, being forced to miss the wins over Burnley and Backa Topla.
Should the England star return, it remains to be seen whether he’ll start so Moyes could hand a first start since September for fringe player Cornet who delivered a bright cameo on Thursday providing a delicious cross for Soucek to score the winner.
Moyes will be looking for that sort of creativity in Bowen’s absence and could yet decide to axe youngster Mubama after he was largely anonymous last time out and deploy Mohammed Kudus as a false-nine, flanked by Lucas Paqueta on the left flank and Cornet on the right.
Kudus also missed Thursday’s game through illness but like Alvarez and Coufal, should be ready in time for Sunday’s crucial game at the London Stadium.
The Hammers meanwhile sit ninth in the Premier League table, winning six matches, drawing twice and losing five games while Palace sit in 13th place with 15 points to their name.
In other West Ham news, a TNT Sports pundit was left blown away by one Hammers player after what he did in their 1-0 win over Backa Topola, he is “on flames” right now.