Slaven Bilic’s side have started 2017 terribly. Although both the results were quite expected given their strong opponents, the bigger concern has been the way they been swatted away by Manchester City.
While United beat them 2-0, City saw them off with a 5-0 thrashing. Bilic is desperate to add new faces to the club after their summer transfers failed big time in the first half of the season. And to add to the woes, the Hammers are without Andre Ayew, Cheikhou Kouyate and Diafra Sakho, who are either injured or away at AFCON for at least a month.
However, their next opponent, Crystal Palace, haven’t won a single game in their six fixtures and Bilic might have the first win of 2017 when they host Sam Allardyce’s men in the London Stadium this Saturday.
Defence
Darren Randolph is expected to start the game against the Eagles after Bilic opted to rest him in the FA Cup fixture against Manchester City.
James Collins has returned to training that is a huge injury boost for Bilic and although he won’t risk him in the starting line-up, having such an experienced player on the bench would give a lot of confidence to the manager.
West Ham’s defence was non-existent against City, and Bilic would expect his back four pull their socks up against Palace. Aaron Cresswell and Havard Nordtveit are expected to start on the defensive flanks. At the centre of the defence, Bilic has no better option than to stick with Angelo Ogbonna and Winston Reid.
Midfield
The AFCON departures have most affected the Hammers’ midfield and it was clearly reflected in their game against City. Skipper Mark Noble is expected to return to the midfield after starting the FA Cup fixture from the bench. He will start alongside Pedro Obiang.
Antonio Lanzini wasn’t that effective in the number 10 role and Feghouli continued to be disappointing on the flank. We expect Lanzini to start on the flank this time with Dimitri Payet at the centre. The French international played only half an hour in the City game. There’s still a major doubt if Bilic will choose him after what’s transpired recently off the pitch and if he doesn’t, Lanzini could play at the centre with Feghouli on the right. The ever-reliable Michail Antonio is expected to start from the left flank
Attack
Andy Carroll is expected to start up front as the sole striker against Palace. He was completely shut out against City, who reduced him to a mere spectator in the attacking third. Bilic would expect the England striker to show some vibrancy this time.
Randolph
Cresswell – Ogbonna – Reid – Nordtveit
Noble – Obiang
Lanzini – Payet – Antonio
Carroll
