David Moyes will make nine West Ham changes for Brentford with more than one eye on the all-important Euro semi-final clash.
West Ham head to west London to face Brentford on Sunday afternoon with all eyes on the starting XI.
Supporters have urged David Moyes to rest most of the players who will start against AZ Alkmaar in Holland in the Europa Conference League semi-final second leg on Thursday night.
The Hammers have expended a lot of energy of late, particularly in the last week.
West Ham beat Man United 1-0 last weekend to all but officially secure Premier League survival.
Predicted: David Moyes makes nine West Ham changes for Brentford with more than one eye on all-important Euro semi-final clash
A point today – coupled with a Liverpool win over Leicester on Monday night – would make that official.
But realistically Moyes’ side are already safe.
The second leg in Holland is one of the biggest games in the club’s modern history.
Moyes will need all his key players fit, fresh and firing for the match against that young, energetic AZ team.
We predict Moyes makes nine West Ham changes for Brentford with more than one eye on the all-important Euro semi-final clash.
Let’s have it right, the Hammers are safe – and Europe is far more important
There have been calls for Lukasz Fabianski to start in the second leg after Alphonse Areola’s mistake on the Alkmaar goal at the London Stadium. So many have suggested Areola should start the game against Brentford instead.
And there had been doubts over the availability of Angelo Ogbonna due to illness.
But early team news from the likes of ExWHUemployee claim Fabianski will come back in goal and that Ogbonna is hoping to be fit for the Bees.
Moyes will however make sweeping changes to the team which started against Alkmaar last time out.
Nine in total. And if he does we make it the right call. Let’s have it right, West Ham are safe. Even if the Hammers lose to Brentford, an expected Liverpool win over Leicester at Anfield – under the lights – makes it all but official.
The Euro match is far more important this week, it’s as simple as that.
Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Brentford:
Fabianski, Johnson, Aguerd, Ogbonna, Emerson, Soucek, Downes, Lanzini, Fornals, Cornet, Ings.
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