West Ham United v Everton preview: Team news, head-to-head, where to watch, lineups, prediction
Everton have a chance to switch focus back to events on the field when they take on West Ham in Premier League action at the London Stadium on Sunday (29 October).
The Toffees are hovering three points above the relegation zone as they prepare to face a West Ham side seven points better off in ninth place.
Preview
Everton have won just two of their nine Premier League matches this season, coming against Brentford and Bournemouth.
Those two victories have come in their past four outings, though, while they were perhaps unfortunate to lose 2-0 at Liverpool last weekend when reduced to 10 men before half-time.
It has been an emotional week for the club off the field as chairman Bill Kenwright passed away at the age of 78.
That is not to mention the uncertain takeover situation, plus the threat of a potential 12-point deduction if found guilty of breaching FFP rules [The Telegraph]
All Sean Dyche’s side can do for now is pick up points on the field in the hope of putting distance between themselves and the bottom three.
As for opponents West Ham, they have struggled for form since making a strong start to the season that saw them win three and draw one of their opening four matches.
David Moyes’ men have lost three of their past five league games, taking just four points from the past 15 on offer.
That includes a heavy 4-1 loss to Aston Villa last time out, which they followed up with a 2-1 loss against Olympiacos in the Europa League.
United rotated their side for that game in Greece on Thursday (27 October), but Moyes will now be eager to bounce back from successive losses.
Form guide (Premier League)
West Ham: WLLWDL
Everton: DLWLWL
Head-to-head (past five meetings, all comps)
West Ham 0-1 Everton (9 May, 2021)
Everton 0-1 West Ham (17 October, 2021)
West Ham 2-1 Everton (3 April, 2022)
Everton 1-0 West Ham (18 September, 2022)
West Ham 2-0 Everton (21 January, 2023)
Team news
Everton remain without long-term absentees Dele Alli, Andre Gomes and skipper Seamus Coleman, although the latter is fast closing in on a return to action.
Ashley Young is the other absentee for the visitors due to his sending off against Liverpool last weekend, likely opening the door for Nathan Patterson to come into the side at right-back, with Vitalii Mykolenko on the opposite flank.
Dyche is expected to stick with his central midfield three of James Garner, Amadou Onana and Abdoulaye Doucoure, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin – enjoying an injury-free streak – should again lead the line.
As for West Ham, Moyes has a big headache in the full-back positions as Emerson Palmieri is definitely ruled out after accumulating five yellow cards, while Vladimir Coufal missed the midweek trip to Greece with a minor muscle injury.
Aaron Cresswell and Ben Johnson are on standby, but Moyes will give Coufal every chance of being available.
After making seven changes against Olympiacos, West Ham will otherwise be close to the side that featured against Villa last week, although Michail Antonio’s place in the side is surely at risk after a bad run in front of goal.
Predicted lineups
West Ham: Areola; Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Cresswell; Alvarez, Soucek; Kudus, Ward-Prowse, Paqueta; Bowen
Everton: Pickford; Patterson, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; McNeil, Garner, Onana, Harrison; Doucoure; Calvert-Lewin
Where to watch?
The match at London Stadium kicks off at 1pm GMT on 29 October and will be live on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra HDR, as well as the Sky Go app.
Prediction: West Ham 1-1 Everton
This is a big game for both sides, with each looking to get back to winning ways.
West Ham have struggled for any real momentum in terms of results over the past six weeks or so, while Everton have just simply struggled for wins full stop.
A quick turnaround in games for West Ham certainly will not help, and we can see them being held by lowly Everton on home soil this weekend.
In other Everton news, several parties are reportedly waiting to make an offer for the Toffees should 777 Partners’ proposed takeover fall through.