Hammers boss David Moyes will make a late decision on two big West Ham changes for the Europa League decider at Brighton.
The curtain closes on another successful season for West Ham today whatever happens at the Amex.
West Ham travel to Brighton for the final game of the season with plenty still to play for.
A win against what has become something of a bogey team for West Ham, would see David Moyes’s side finish sixth in the Premier League if Man United do not beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Should Man United draw or lose and West Ham win at Brighton, it would secure back-to-back sixth place finishes for the Hammers and qualification for the Europa League again.
It would also dump the once mighty Man United into a Europa Conference League play-off in August.
West Ham are hopeful Palace, who have been a much better side under Patrick Vieira this season, can do them a favour by getting at least a draw at what promises to be a noisy Selhurst Park for the club’s final home game of the campaign.
The Hammers will have to do their bit, though, and end something of a hoodoo against Brighton in the process.
Moyes revealed he has more or less a fully fit squad with Said Benrahma available again after missing last week’s draw against Man City.
The feeling around West Ham is that the manager will keep the same team that started – and performed so well – against Man City last weekend.
But we predict it may not be as cut and dried as that.
Predicted: David Moyes makes late decision on two big West Ham changes for Brighton
In fact Moyes makes a late decision on two big West Ham changes for Brighton in our opinion.
We don’t believe Mark Noble will start in a sentimental last ever game. If Moyes was going to do that he would have done it last week in the last home game against City.
But one possible change is at right-back where Vladimir Coufal is seriously struggling to rediscover anything like the form of his debut season.
Ben Johnson, who is somewhat unlucky to find himself out of the side, could replace Coufal at right-back.
Another potential change could see Benrahma come back in for Manuel Lanzini.
The Argentine was brilliant for West Ham in spells this season, particularly in Europe. But his form has dipped during the run in.
He could be replaced by Benrahma with Pablo Fornals shifting to a more central role.
Moyes will be pondering the changes before naming his team at 3pm.
We predict he will either name the same side that started against Man City or go with the two changes above as West Ham take on Brighton.
Predicted West Ham starting XI for Brighton without changes:
Fabianski, Coufal, Dawson, Zouma, Cresswell, Rice, Soucek, Lanzini, Fornals, Bowen, Antonio.
Predicted West Ham starting XI for Brighton with two changes:
Fabianski, Johnson, Dawson, Zouma, Cresswell, Rice, Soucek, Fornals, Benrahma, Bowen, Antonio.