West Ham United entertain fellow strugglers West Bromwich Albion tomorrow in what looks set to be a season-defining six-pointer.
West Ham have dropped back into the relegation zone after picking up just one point against fellow strugglers Newcastle and Bournemouth in their last two games.
David Moyes has a tough task on his hands to keep the East Londoners up and knows defeat to West Brom would see the Hammers drop down to 19th.
Victory, though, would push West Ham up closer to mid table and put a gap between them and the bottom three with Thursday’s game against rivals Tottenham on the horizon.
The West Brom game is arguably West Ham’s biggest match for two years since their farewell game at the Boleyn Ground.
There is a lot more riding on this and it could be a season-defining moment for the Hammers.
Moyes will make three changes to the team which twice led but ultimately failed to beat Bournemouth last time out.
Winston Reid in for Aaron Cresswell
Reid was dropped for the game against the Cherries after the Hammers conceded three goals against Newcastle.
But they went out and shipped three once again.
Reid will come back in for Cresswell who has been poor of late despite a resurgence as part of a back three under Moyes.
Mark Noble in for Cheikhou Kouyate
One of West Ham fans’ biggest gripes this season has been the form of Kouyate who has turned from monster to mouse for the Hammers. The Senegalese looks a shadow of the player who has been so important to West Ham over the last three seasons and it could be his time at the club is coming to an end.
Mark Noble helped inspire West Ham’s mini-revival under Moyes but was injured in the 3-0 victory at Stoke and has since missed defeats at Arsenal in the Carabao Cup, Newcastle at home and the draw at Bournemouth.
Word is Noble is back in training and he should come straight back into the heart of midfield in place of the out of sorts Kouyate.
Michail Antonio in for Andre Ayew
Speculation has been rife that Andre Ayew has been offered back to Swansea in a swap deal for Alfie Mawson. The Ghana captain has shown glimpses of his goalscoring ability with the Hammers but does not do enough during games in his all round play to justify his £20.5 million price tag. Another poor performance against Bournemouth where he missed a crucial chance will see him replaced by Michail Antonio who is fit again after injury.
West Ham predicted line-up for West Brom
Adrian, Zabaleta, Reid, Collins, Ogbonna, Masuaku, Noble, Obiang, Antonio, Lanzini, Arnautovic.
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