One point off of fourth, West Ham can make Champions League football at the Olympic Stadium a reality.
For that to happen, Crystal Palace are a team who West Ham must defeat at home.
With eight Hammers included in international play over the break, the task could be harder than West Ham’s form may suggest.
Palace last won in the Premier League on 19th December, over Stoke City, and have gone 13 games without victory since.
Despite the slump, Slaven Bilic warns against playing down to a Palace team who are through to the semifinals of the FA Cup.
They have been unlucky in their last couple of home games, especially against Liverpool. It’s still a very dangerous game for us. They have a very solid team, have pace up front, so it will be difficult for us, of course, I don’t think Palace have to change the way they play, with their counter-attacking, but they just need to start converting their chances.
Palace’s star man Yohan Cabaye has scored three goals in his last two appearances against West Ham, but he is reported to have a knock, possibly limiting his role at the Boleyn Ground Saturday.
As for the Hammers, James Tomkins is likely to return to the side at right-back as Sam Byram is out. James Collins is another who is still sidelined.
Tomkins playing right back for the Hammers will allow Michail Antonio to focus on an advanced role. Antonio has filled in admirably while Byram has been absent, but he’s better in an attacking role
The West Ham team could also lack Cheikhou Kouyate, Victor Moses and Enner Valencia, all doubts following their late returns from international duty.
While Bilic would prefer his team train together, West Ham will see Dimitri Payet return with even more swagger in his game after a successful international break with France. His 37-yard free kick goal in France’s victory over Russia all but sealed him a spot on France’s Euro 2016 roster.
Speaking of his star man’s international involvement, Bilic said.
It is great for him and great for us. In one hand you’d love him to be with us, train and rest, but it is great. He was very confident before but he will become even more confident now. At the end of the day, he didn’t go for holiday – he was training with top-quality players and a top-quality coach.
Even better, Payet stood out amongst those top quality players. Coming back to the Boleyn Ground, the West Ham attack will be revolving around the 29-year-old, and will be too much for a down-and-out Palace side.
Score Prediction: West Ham 2-0 Crystal Palace.
Despite fears of the international break dampening West Ham’s momentum, the Hammers will find themselves in a Champions League place as Saturday night closes – should Bournemouth get a result over Manchester City.
Dimitri Payet will lead the charge against a Palace team who have conceded joint-most goals in this period – 14.
A well-rested Adrian and a healthier defence than has been the case in recent weeks will secure West Ham’s 11th clean sheet of the season.
