Both West Ham and Bournemouth started their Premier League campaigns with defeat but they each have a chance to rectify those losses when they meet this weekend. This game will be a historic one for West Ham who play their first ever League game at their new home venue the Olympic Stadium. West Ham started their season with a 2-1 loss to Chelsea while Bournemouth were beaten 1-3 by Manchester United.
Both of the two games produced plenty of goals when the two sides met each other last season. Bournemouth came out 4-3 winners at Upton Park while the Hammers won 3-1 at Dean Court. West Ham had a midweek game as they played the first leg of the Europa League playoffs against Astra Giurgiu. The game finished 1-1 but West Ham will feel sorry for conceding a late goal.
Both sides will give everything they have in this game to get the first three points of the new season and we can expect a cracker of a game. Here is the predicted lineup for West Ham against Bournemouth.
Defence
Adrian is likely to replace cup keeper Darren Randolph between the sticks. We saw Slaven Bilic naming a much weaker squad in the midweek against Astra and probably the reason was to keep his star players fresh for the weekend. Michail Antonio started in his favoured winger position in the midweek and we can expect the 26-year-old to start as a right-back against the Cherries. Winston Reid is likely to make his way back to the starting XI and partner Angelo Ogbonna. Summer signing from Olympiacos, Arthur Masuaku, will start in the left-back position.
Midfield
Both Havard Nordtveit and Cheikhou Kouyate were rested against Astra and will definitely start against Bournemouth despite having a minor knock. Nordtveit will start as the defensive midfielder and his job will be to protect his back four. With the Norwegian international screening the defence, skipper Mark Noble and Cheikhou Kouyate will operate as the two box to box midfielders.
Attack
Dimitri Payet is yet to start a game for West Ham this season. The Frenchman was on the bench against Chelsea and added a bit of spark after coming on. The 29-year-old is likely to start against Bournemouth on the left flank while Gokhan Tore should start on the opposite flank. Andy Carroll will spearhead the attack for the Hammers.
