West Ham United vs Newcastle United
Date: 23/12/2017
K/O: 15:00pm
Venue: London Stadium
West Ham welcome Newcastle to their first visit to the London Stadium in hope of exacting some revenge after their humiliation up at St James Park where they were thoroughly beaten 3-0. West Ham have turned the corner since that game after gaining 7 points in the last 3 game weeks with impressive wins against Chelsea and Stoke City and a draw against Arsenal. All this has pushed West Ham up the table and out of the relegation zone.
Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle however have been faltering of late as they have only gained 1 point in their last six games and haven’t scored in their last two. This run of form has seen them drop down the table into the relegation zone and meaning their positive start to the campaign is over.
Team News:
David Moyes will have some decisions to make, as Mark Noble and Michail Antonio are major doubts for todays clash as they have both picked up knocks. Moyes could be able to call back Senegalese enforcer Cheikou Kouyate as he has recovered from a hamstring injury. Although Moyes will also have to wait for Sam Byram and Jose Fonte as they both recover from long-term injuries. Furthermore, Edmilson Fernandes is out due to surgery on his ankle, which will put him out for the foreseeable future.
Moyes will also be without star man Manuel Lanzini as he serves the second game of his ban after he was adjudged to have successfully deceived the referee in the match against Stoke City.
Rafa Benitez however, has a fully fit squad and his only absence will be Jonjo Shelvey as he serves a suspension as he has picked up to many yellow cards putting him out of the weekends match.
Predicted Line-ups:
West Ham United: Adrian, Zabaleta, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Kouyate, Obiang, Arnautovic, Ayew, Hernandez.
Newcastle United: Elliot, Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Manquillo, Murphy, Merino, Atsu, Joselu, Perez.
Score Prediction: West Ham United 2 Newcastle United 0
This will be a tough game for Newcastle as they face a West Ham team high on confidence after their recent league form. Also with West ham’s new found solidity at the back as the have kept three clean sheets on the trot, they will be a tough egg to crack for Newcastle’s misfiring attack. West Ham should be pulling away in this game and push further up the table and solidify their premier league status as soon as possible
