West Ham United boss David Moyes looks set to make one big change to his side for the crucial match against West Brom tonight.
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A glut of injuries to key players over the last two months ended up derailing West Ham’s bid for Champions League football.
Moyes and Allardyce go head-to-head at the Hawthorns with West Brom already relegated and West Ham needing a win to secure European football.
Whether that is in the Europa League or Europa Conference League remains to be seen.
Crunch game at Hawthorns for West Ham’s Europa League ambitions
It looks like West Ham are in a battle with Tottenham to secure sixth spot and Europa League football next season.
West Ham face West Brom and Southampton. Meanwhile Spurs have more difficult matches – on paper at least – against an Aston Villa side boosted by the return of Jack Grealish and Ollie Watkins and Champions League chasing Leicester.
West Ham go into the game off the back of a 1-1 draw at Brighton. Although the result was given some context by the fact the Seagulls went on to beat champions Man City 3-2 last night.
West Brom were desperately unlucky to lose 2-1 to Liverpool last time out.
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Rumours had been circulating that West Ham hero Declan Rice would miss the game through injury just one match into his return after six weeks out.
But reliable West Ham insider ExWHUemployee has denied that claim and insists Rice is in the squad.
“I can confirm that Rice is in the squad today and available for selection, despite twitter rumours,” ExWHUemployee has posted on Twitter.
West Ham must go for the win and Moyes will make one change to the side which drew against Brighton.
Moyes to make one big change as Benrahma comes back in from the start but Dawson escapes being benched
Said Benrahma – who many felt was harshly dropped for the game at the Amex – finally broke his Hammers duck when scored the equaliser as a second half substitute.
And the Algerian looks set to regain his starting berth in place of Jarrod Bowen, who failed to shine against Brighton.
Moyes will undoubtedly have been mulling whether to drop Craig Dawson after an alarming dip in form.
But his height and physical presence against an Allardyce unit should see him keep his place against his old club.
Predicted West Ham starting XI to face West Brom:
Fabianski, Coufal, Dawson, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Soucek, Rice, Fornals, Benrahma, Lingard, Antonio.
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