West Ham United welcome Sunderland to the London Stadium this weekend. This Premier League fixture is a massive game for manager Nuno Espírito Santo. The Hammers are currently stuck in 18th place. They need points to climb out of the relegation zone, even after a great 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in their last match.
Sunderland sit comfortably in ninth under Regis Le Bris. They arrive in London following a solid win against Crystal Palace. Back injuries sideline both Lukasz Fabianski and Lucas Paquetá. These absences create selection headaches for the hosts and force Nuno to rely heavily on his January signings to get the team back on track.
West Ham Predicted Starting Lineup vs. Sunderland:
Defence
Alphonse Areola will keep his spot in goal. He provides vital experience behind a back four that possesses physical strength with youthful energy. Aaron Wan-Bissaka will continue at right-back. His one-on-one defending will be vital against Sunderland’s wide threats. In the centre, Konstantinos Mavropanos will partner with Jean-Clair Todibo.
This pairing must dominate in the air to stop the visitors’ set-pieces. Perhaps the big talking point is young Oliver Scarles at left-back. The 20-year-old academy graduate has impressed lately and keeps his place. He offers natural width and a calm head that hides the fact that he is new to top-flight football.
Midfield
Without Paquetá, the midfield looks a lot different. Tomáš Souček will sit in the middle. His job is to break up play and shield the backline. Nuno will expect him to partner with Mateus Fernandes. Fernandes brings energy and a passing range that will help move the ball from defence to attack.
On the wings, Jarrod Bowen will captain the side from the right. He will look to cut inside on his left foot. Meanwhile, Crysencio Summerville will play on the left. Summerville’s raw pace will give them a way to counterattack. This could be the difference if Sunderland commit too many players forward.
Attack
The pressure is on West Ham’s new attacking signings. Brazilian playmaker Pablo, wearing the number 19 shirt, will start in the number 10 role just behind the striker. His ability to find space will be key to breaking down a tough Sunderland defence. Leading the line will be his fellow January signing, Taty Castellanos.
Having joined from Lazio to fix the club’s goal-scoring problems, the Argentine striker now makes his home debut with high expectations. His movement off the ball and sharp eye for goal will give the Hammers a focal point. They have missed this presence for most of the season.
