Mark Lawrenson raises West Ham concerns but backs Hammers against Brighton on one key condition

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West Ham United fans have a turbulent relationship with BBC Sport pundit Mark Lawrenson.

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During West Ham’s record breaking 2015/16 season – when they amassed their best ever Premier League points total – Lawrenson famously sided against the east Londoners week after week.

So much so the final standings based on his predictions would have seen West Ham relegated with just 32 points.

Same predictions, different season from Lawro

The reality was West Ham finished seventh with 62 points, just four points off a Champions League spot.

This season – West Ham’s best since the Farewell Boleyn campaign – is more of the same from Lawro.

According to his predictions so far West Ham should be down in 15th with just 15 points and a -7 goal difference.

Instead David Moyes’s side are 10th with a positive goal difference and could go seventh with a win over Brighton on Sunday.

This week, though, Lawrenson is backing West Ham to beat Brighton – on one key condition.

Perennial Hammers doubter has concerns but backs Moyes’s men on one condition

The former Liverpool man is still unsure about the Hammers. And he thinks the game against Brighton is a tough one to call despite the visitors being in the relegation mix.

But Lawro believes West Ham will win IF Michail Antonio returns to the squad after injury.

Moyes has confirmed he has a decision to make over Antonio’s inclusion for the match against the Seagulls.

Lawrenson says he has been concerned by West Ham’s lack of goal threat of late.

But if Antonio returns he feels Moyes’s men will emerge victorious at the London Stadium.

‘If Antonio plays, West Ham win’ says Lawro

“This is a tough one to call because you know that Brighton play some good football without really hurting teams,” Lawrenson said on BBC Sport.

“West Ham have been playing some decent stuff too, but have gone a couple of games without winning.

“I’m going to go with the Hammers, though, mainly because there is a chance that Michail Antonio could be available after his hamstring injury.”

Sky Sports aren’t so confident.

Their prediction for the match is a 0-0 bore draw based on the tail off in West Ham’s ability to find the back of the net of late.

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