View: Predicted West Ham XI vs Lyon
David Moyes is expected to make some changes to his West Ham side as they take on Lyon in the Europa League quarter-final first leg this week.
The Hammers returned from the international break to take all three points against Everton at the weekend and are now preparing for a historic European clash at the London Stadium.
But as Moyes looks to welcome back some players to fitness, decisions must be made on who starts the game on the pitch and who starts it on the bench.
In goal Lukasz Fabianski has been number one in the Premier League, but Moyes has stuck by loanee Areola in cup games this season and that should continue here after his excellent performance against Sevilla in the last round.
Aaron Cresswell scored a stunning free-kick at the weekend and his set-pieces could come in handy against Lyon, so he should continue at left-back while Kurt Zouma and Craig Dawson are the established first-choice pairing in the centre of defence.
After missing weeks of action following a hernia, Vladimir Coufal returned to the substitutes bench at the weekend and with some extra training Moyes will likely bring him into the side ahead of Ryan Fredericks.
In midfield it’s a no-brainer, with Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek the indispensable duo in the pivot ahead of captain Mark Noble ad they will start again fitness permitting.
Moyes has some decisions to make ahead of them though, following the return to fitness and goals of Jarrod Bowen.
The 25-year-old had missed four games with a foot injury, but got the winner in his first game back and after being replaced in the second half should be expecting to start here.
Pablo Fornals and Said Benrahma were dangerous against Everton, but Manuel Lanzini is expected to be available following his car crash on Thursday afternoon following international duty.
The Argentine was left out after being shaken up, but should be fine to return to action and will likely start in one of the three positions behind Michail Antonio up front.
Moyes is more likely to go with the Spaniard Fornals in the attacking midfield position due to his goal threat and added energy defensively, which would see the Algerian step aside to the bench.
Predicted West Ham XI v Lyon: Areola; Coufal, Zouma, Dawson, Cresswell; Rice, Soucek; Bowen, Lanzini, Fornals; Antonio
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