West Ham-Bournemouth is a match valid for the 22nd day of the Premier League and is played on Thursday at 8:30pm: live TV, probable formations, predictions.
On one side is West Ham, still looking for its first win of 2024, while on the other side is Bournemouth, which wants to quickly forget the drubbing with Liverpool 10 days ago. There is certainly no shortage of cues in the first of two midweek Premier League postponements, which sees two teams fighting for different goals clash: the Hammers dream of fourth place, the Cherries a quiet salvation.
David Moyes’ men had ended the old year in the best possible way, and that was by going on to win at home to Arsenal (0-2), thus dispelling the Emirates Stadium taboo. A few days earlier, Manchester United had also had to surrender to West Ham, which was able to achieve three consecutive victories after the humiliating 5-0 loss to Fulham last December 10 at Craven Cottage. Since the success with the Gunners in the league, the Hammers have recorded two draws, the first with Brighton (0-0) and the second with bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United (2-2). In between were the two FA Cup matches with Bristol City, who prevailed 1-0 in the replay (the first match had ended 1-1) and ousted the Londoners from the competition.
Bournemouth unpredictable
In spite of slowing down, West Ham remains -5 from fifth place, which from this year could be worth qualifying for the “new” Champions League: the next edition, in fact, will involve more teams.
Beware, however, of a potential “banana peel” like Bournemouth, which at the turn of November and December experienced a veritable state of grace, hitting six wins in seven matches. Then came back-to-back defeats to Tottenham and Liverpool to bring Andoni Iraola’s Cherries back down to earth, but the Rossoneri have shown they can create headaches for anyone with their proactive play. At this rate, salvation could be achieved sooner than expected: at the moment Bournemouth has nine points more than the third-last, Luton Town.
The prediction
West Ham must do without Paquetà and Antonio, both still injured, but on the other hand they have rediscovered Kudus, who has returned to London after his failed adventure with his Ghanaian side in the African Cup of Nations. The Hammers’ victory, in any case, is not a foregone conclusion: Bournemouth will make their case in a potentially entertaining match with at least three goals total.
The likely lineups for West Ham-Bournemouth
WEST HAM (4-2-3-1): Areola; Johnson, Mavropanos, Zouma, Emerson Palmieri; Phillips, Soucek; Bowen, Ward-Prowse, Fornals; Ings.
BOURNEMOUTH (4-2-3-1): Neto; Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez; Cook, Christie; Tavernier, Scott, Sinisterra; Solanke.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-2
