West Ham United head to Fulham tonight on the back of a 5-2 defeat to Liverpool. Luckily for the Hammers, the result did not change the the team’s situation, with the club still just two points from safety.
Nuno Espirito Santo will know just how important this game is, with West Ham not playing all that badly at Anfield. Defending will always be the starting point of his Iron’s team, but taking chances is at the top of the order for West Ham at Craven Cottage.
Here’s who we think will start tonight’s game.
Mads Hermansen (GK)
Mads Hermansen had a difficult day on Merseyside but that wasn’t all his fault. The shot stopper has been a key part of West Ham’s improvement so keep’s his place.
Malick Diouf (LB)
Without sugar coating it, El Hadji Malick Diouf is still West Ham’s best option on the left-side of defence. With that being said, he needs to make an impact in this game.
Axel Disasi (CB)
Axel Disasi was as much a part of the poor set piece defending as everyone else. Like Hermansen, he keeps his place.
Konstantinos Mavropanos (CB)
Konstantinos Mavropanos is still West Ham’s best central defender, look for him to command the back line in this huge Premier League matchup.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (RB)
Another player who needs a good performance tonight. Aaron Wan-Bissaka struggled against Liverpool when his team needed him, he keeps his place on other recent performances.
Mateus Fernandes (CDM)
West Ham’s most creative player at the moment, Mateus Fernandes isn’t going anywhere. The playmaker needs to see more of the ball in this game to control the tempo for the Hammers.
Tomas Soucek (CDM)
Tomas Soucek has been further up the pitch in recent games, even netting in recent games. With taking chances on the agenda, he drops a little deeper to partner Fernandes with Soungoutou Magassa dropping out.
Crysencio Summerville (LW)
Crysencio Summerville found it hard going at Anfield, but should be able to find space in tonight’s game. An on-form Summerville can be the difference for the Hammers.
Callum Wilson (CAM)
Coming in to sit just behind the striker is Callum Wilson. The forward has found starts hard to come by but the West Ham need goals, and bringing in Wilson could be the answer to see the Hammers take some of their chances.
Jarrod Bowen (RW)
The captain is still searching for a goal but was solid at Anfield and got an assist. Jarrod Bowen keeps running the right-hand side.
Valetin Castellanos (ST)
One of the two goal scorers in the loss to Liverpool, Valentin Castellanos keeps his pace in the XI. This time the Argentinian will be joined by Wilson, in the hope both players can help West Ham take their chances.
Hermansen (GK); Diouf; Disasi; Mavropanos; Wan-Bissaka; Fernandes; Soucek; Summerville; Wilson; Bowen; Castellanos
