WHZ Tactics: Said Benrahma could recreate October masterclass v Fulham for West Ham
West Ham United are welcoming Fulham to the London Stadium on Saturday evening in the Premier League.
Irons fans got their first taste of new signing Said Benrahma towards the end of the defeat at Liverpool, and the Algerian will be looking to make his full debut this weekend.
The Algerian international has tormented Fulham before in the past and has already done that this season – in a Carabao Cup clash in October.
Looking at that performance, the Cottagers will be fearing Benrahma.
The 25-year-old scored twice and had six touches in the opposing penalty area according to WyScout, which is his most in any game this season.
Benrahma’s second goal was a thing of beauty, picking up the ball with his back to goal from at-least 30 yards away.
With one swift turn, he put it through the legs of Michael Hector and smashed it into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
It was a beautiful finish, and the look on the faces of the Fulham defence after that goal proved they didn’t want to see Benrahma for a long, long time.
That was one of the final defeats before Scott Parker decided to make drastic changes to his Fulham defence, which kept their first clean sheet of the season on Monday.
Parker has since brought in Toisin Adarabayo and Joachim Andersen, both of those started against West Brom and will be expected to continue against the Irons.
Benrahma will be itching to start a game for the Hammers, and with Michail Antonio missing, this is a perfect opportunity.
David Moyes will be tempted to ditch his five-at-the-back formation, and that will give Benrahma a shot at his first start – time will tell.
In other West Ham United news, Mark Lawrenson predicts Hammers clash with Fulham