After a three month lay-off, Premier League football has returned to our lives and it’s been a very exciting return this weekend, but it won’t be complete until the Hammers take to the pitch.
West Ham travel to Old Trafford on the opening weekend to take on a new-look Manchester United side bolstered by several big-money additions.
Slaven Bilic will be without a number of his key performers for this clash as the likes of Andy Carroll and Cheikhou Kouyate are yet to return to first-team training as they continue their recoveries from their respective injuries.
Michail Antonio played in a U23 game last night but won’t feature tomorrow, while the club’s newest signing Sead Haksabanovic will not be involved either.
Diafra Sakho has travelled and could be named in the matchday squad.
Here is our first predicted XI of the new season.
GK: Joe Hart
Joe Hart will make his West Ham debut this weekend as he looks to revive his career.
RB: Pablo Zabaleta
Zabaleta’s arrival gives the Hammers some stability at right-back.
CB: Winston Reid
Reid has been passed fit for this match and is Bilic’s top centre-back.
CB: Angelo Ogbonna
Ogbonna is Bilic’s preferred partner for Reid when everyone is fit.
LB: Aaron Cresswell
Left-back is a well-contested area for West Ham but I believe Bilic does trust Cresswell more right now but things can change quickly.
CM: Pedro Obiang
Obiang will have a designated role to sit in midfield tomorrow.
CM: Mark Noble
Noble will skipper the side alongside Obiang.
CM: Edimilson Fernandes
With Lanzini out, Fernandes will be the midfielder looking to link midfield with attack.
RW: Andre Ayew
Ayew will start the season on the right with Antonio missing.
LW: Marko Arnautovic
Arnautovic will earn his first start for the club and will look to provide support in attack.
ST: Javier Hernandez
Hernandez will start against his former club on his return to the Premier League.