David Moyes looks set to make at least eight changes to his West Ham United side for the Carabao Cup clash with Manchester City.
West Ham’s only doubts for the Man City game in front of a sell-out 60,000 London Stadium crowd surround right-backs Vladimir Coufal and Ryan Fredericks and midfielder Alex Kral.
Moyes has been very careful with his team selection as he juggles Premier League, Europa League and Carabao Cup fixtures.
And so far the Scot has managed the situation masterfully.
West Ham have been making wholesale changes between their Premier League and Europa/Carabao sides so far this season.
But it is a testament to the quality within the squad that there has not been a huge drop-off in West Ham’s levels.
That is evidenced by the fact the Hammers are flying high at the top of their Europa League group with a perfect three wins from three and are through to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup having beaten Man United at Old Trafford.
David Moyes to make at least eight changes to West Ham side for Man City cup clash
While there are a few uncertainties surrounding Moyes’s team selection for the game against Man City, the Hammers boss does look set to make at least eight changes to the team which beat Tottenham on Sunday.
West Ham face a trip to Aston Villa this coming Sunday and Moyes will be keen to consolidate the club’s place in the Premier League’s top four as the season passes the quarter-way stage.
And that will be in the back of his mind as he plots his side to take on a Man City second string.
Alphonse Areola will come in for Lukasz Fabianski in goal for West Ham.
Issa Diop and Craig Dawson will resume their excellent partnership in central defence.
Manuel Lanzini and Nikola Vlasic will come into the side for Said Benrahma and Pablo Fornals.
Andriy Yarmolenko will replace Michail Antonio with Jarrod Bowen switching to striker.
In midfield Mark Noble looks set to replace Declan Rice but the big decision will be around Kral and whether he is fit to start having completed a 10-day isolation period following a positive Covid test.
If Kral is fit then he will likely come in for compatriot Tomas Soucek.
Coufal won’t be risked but if Fredericks is not deemed fit enough to start then Johnson will continue at right-back.
On the other side Moyes will be keen to rest Cresswell. He could play Johnson or Fredericks at left-back – with the other playing in their natural right-back position – or bring Arthur Masuaku back into the side for some much-needed game time.
Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Man City, with Kral and Fredericks fit:
Areola, Johnson, Diop, Dawson, Fredericks, Noble, Kral, Lanzini, Vlasic, Yarmolenko, Bowen.
Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Man City, without Kral and Fredericks starting:
Areola, Johnson, Diop, Dawson, Cresswell/Masuaku, Noble, Soucek, Lanzini, Vlasic, Yarmolenko, Bowen.
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