West Ham United face fierce rivals Chelsea in a huge Champions League six-pointer this evening.
West Ham star labelled ‘the new Iniesta’ by Andres Iniesta
It promises to be a fascinating match with both sides level on 55 points with six games to go.
The victor knows they will end the weekend in the last Champions League spot regardless of results elsewhere.
West Ham were largely the better side in the reverse fixture earlier this season but somehow conspired to lose 3-0 late on.
West Ham advantage could be undone by absences
Whatever advantage West Ham might have had over Chelsea in terms of fixture toll could be undone by absences.
David Moyes’s side have had a full week to recover following the defeat to Newcastle.
Meanwhile Chelsea have played Man City in the FA Cup and Brighton in midweek since West Ham last played. And the Blues face Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals just 72 hours after their European six-pointer with West Ham.
It should be an advantage for West Ham.
But a glut of injuries and a suspension mean have come at the worst possible time for the Hammers.
West Ham will be without Declan Rice, Michail Antonio and Craig Dawson at the London Stadium today.
Moyes to make two changes but it all hinges on late decision over Cresswell
Arthur Masuaku also looks set to miss out again.
Moyes will make two changes to the team which started in the defeat to Newcastle last time out.
But who that change involves – and a formation switch – all hinges on a late decision the Scot has revealed he will make today.
That surrounds the fitness of Aaron Cresswell. The defender missed the loss against the Magpies. And his delivery from set pieces and crosses was sorely missed.
Moyes hinted in his pre-match press conference that Cresswell could be involved with a decision to be made today.
If Cresswell is fit then Moyes will bring him back into the side in place of Dawson while keeping the wingback formation in place.
Cresswell has been most dangerous as an attacking threat from the left centreback position this season. And it will mean less high intensity running – as would be required if he played left back or left wingback.
With Cresswell fit and in the side Moyes will only make one change with Ben Johnson retaining his place at left wingback.
But if Cresswell is not fit then Moyes will revert to a back four and make a different change to his line-up.
Wingbacks with Cresswell, back four and Lanzini or Benrahma without
Johnson will play at left-back in a four.
And the midfield will be reorganised to get the workrate and legs of Pablo Fornals in the centre alongside Mark Noble and Tomas Soucek.
That should free Soucek up to get forward more than he has of late. The big Czech has suffered the absence of Rice more than anyone else and has visibly had his wings clipped.
West Ham struggled to keep the ball and make the right passes when they had it in midfield against Newcastle.
So either Manuel Lanzini or Said Benrahma will come into the side to help the link between midfield and the forward players Jesse Lingard and Jarrod Bowen – particularly on the break.
Here is how West Ham look likely to line-up if Cresswell is fit:
Fabianski, Johnson, Cresswell, Ogbonna, Diop, Coufal, Soucek, Noble, Fornals, Lingard, Bowen.
Here is how West Ham will likely line-up without Cresswell:
Fabianski, Johnson, Ogbonna, Diop, Coufal, Noble, Soucek, Fornals, Lanzini (or Benrahma), Lingard, Bowen.
Prime West Ham striker target set to hand in transfer request – reports
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
