David Moyes and his West Ham side will be looking to get back on the wining trail on Sunday when they play Brighton in their final Premier League home game of 2020.
In what has been a dismal year for many, the Hammers will be aiming to end the year on a high with a victory over the struggling Seagulls, who are flying just one place above the drop zone with just two wins all season.
A win for the Hammers today won’t see them move up in the table but it would take them to within a point of Southampton in ninth, who were held to a 0-0 draw with Fulham on Boxing Day.
Moyes remained coy at his press conference on Christmas Eve about the availability of striker Michail Antonio, who is still on the comeback trail from a hamstring injury that has ruled him out for a month already.
Moyes will also be pondering whether to recall Said Benrahma to his starting eleven having been dropped for the loss to Chelsea last time out, with Mark Noble starting for just the second time this season at Stamford Bridge in the 3-0 reverse.
That score line flattered the hosts greatly in west London and Moyes won’t be making too many changes as his side did play well against Chelsea, though they were a bit toothless in attack.
Here is how we think the Hammers could line up at London Stadium:
As you can see, we have recalled Benrahma at the expense of Noble as Moyes will want to go more attacking against a Brighton side who are not having the best time of it so far this season.
That is the only change in our team that was beaten by Chelsea as Moyes targets a return to winning ways.
That means the back four remains in tact and Moyes doesn’t mess with it. Vladimir Coufal, Angelo Ogbonna, Fabian Balbuena and Aaron Cresswell should all start in front of goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
Noble being taken out of midfield means that Tomas Soucek will play a more disciplined role alongside Declan Rice, who would take over the captaincy with Noble dropping to the bench and Pablo Fornals playing more centrally.
The front three three has a familiar feel to it now despite the absence of Antonio. Sebastien Haller will continue to deputise for the hamstring star and supported by Benrahma off the left and Jarrod Bowen off the right flank.
.png?w=600)
