West Ham United take on Newcastle United in the Premier League this afternoon.
Pundit Mark Lawrenson has told BBC Sport that he thinks West Ham United will beat Newcastle United 2-0 at the London Stadium this afternoon.
The Hammers head into the game having lost 1-0 at Arsenal in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, but their Premier League has picked up under David Moyes.
With seven points taken from the last three Premier League games – including 1-0 and 3-0 wins over Chelsea and Stoke City respectively – West Ham are upwardly mobile in the Premier League table now.
David Moyes and Rafael Benitez
After three clean sheets in a row, West Ham will be looking for another positive result today, though the absence of suspended playmaker Manuel Lanzini is a blow after his ‘dive’ against Stoke.
West Ham’s opponents today will be Newcastle United, who have lost eight of their last nine Premier League games, and are struggling to find the back of the net.
Rafael Benitez’s men have dropped into the relegation zone, and desperately need a positive result from somewhere, with the Magpies hoping to breach West Ham’s defence this afternoon.
January transfers will be imperative for Newcastle, and pundit Mark Lawrenson has told BBC Sport that he thinks Chelsea’s Kenedy will be a good addition for the Magpies, amid reports that the Brazilian is set for St. James’ Park.
Lawrenson did though add that Newcastle need another striker quickly, and with a belief that David Moyes has the hunger and enthusiasm that he had with Preston, Lawrenson is backing a 2-0 West Ham win.
“West Ham are another team that have turned the corner,” said Lawrenson. “They have to be a bit careful here, because Newcastle are on such a bad run – the Hammers cannot afford to think they can just turn up. But I can understand why they are confident, because David Moyes has got his mojo back.”
“Watching him now, it reminds me of when he started out as a manager with Preston – that hunger and enthusiasm is back, his whole demeanour. He is on the warpath. Newcastle are trying to strengthen, starting by trying to take Kenedy on loan from Chelsea. He would be a good addition, but they still need a centre-forward – and quickly,” he added.
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