Preview: West Ham United vs Ipswich Town – predictions, team news, line-ups

Ipswich Town will seek to capitalize on West Ham United‘s woes when they travel to the London Stadium for a Premier League clash on Saturday afternoon.

The two teams meet for the first time since January 2012, when the Tractor Boys recorded a 5-1 home victory over the Hammers in the league.

Match Preview

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Pressure begins to mount on new West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui who won just two of his first eight games in charge in all competitions, failing to lead the Hammers to victory in any of their last five matches.

Over a seven-day period in late September, West Ham suffered back-to-back defeats against Chelsea (3-0) and Liverpool (5-1), losing to the latter in the EFL Cup, before salvaging a point in a 1-1 draw at Brentford last weekend, with Thomas Soucek‘s goal in the second half cancels a 38-second opening match Bryan Mbeumo.

Lopetegui was pleased with his players’ reaction after conceding so early in the match, but Hammers fans are demanding more from their club, given they spent more than £120million on nine new Premier League players. team this summer.

West Ham have accumulated just five points from their opening six Premier League matches, the fifth time in the last nine seasons that they have collected that many points or fewer at this stage, and they find themselves languishing in 14th place in the rankingjust two points above the bottom three and six points behind the top six.

The Hammers, looking to avoid losing their first four top-flight home matches of a season for the first time, have a decent record against Saturday’s opponents Ipswich, having lost just one of their previous nine Premier League meetings.

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Competing in the top flight for the first time in 22 years, Ipswich now appear to be adapting to the rigors of Premier League football after avoiding defeat in each of their last four matches, although drawing all the four.

Solitary points were picked up in matches against Fulham, Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton before coming from behind to claim a share of the spoils in a draw 2-2 at home with Aston Villa last weekend.

Kieran McKenna felt his Ipswich side “created more than enough to win”, but he was nevertheless delighted with his side’s spirited performance, particularly summer signing Liam Delap who played for the Tractor Boys with two goals.

Ranked 15th and just one place and one point behind Saturday’s opponents West Ham, Ipswich are one of five Premier League teams still looking for their first win of the season. They failed to win any of their first six matches of a top-flight season for the first time since the 1982-83 campaign.

McKenna and his colleagues head to the London Stadium looking to collect their first three points on the road since April, when they beat Coventry City 2-1 in the league, and there is reason to be optimistic as they have won their last two championship meetings with West. Ham by an overall score of 6-1.

West Ham United Premier League form:

West Ham United form (all competitions):

Ipswich Town Premier League form:

Ipswich Town form (all competitions):

Team News

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West Ham still have to make do without a striker Nicolas Fullkrug as he continues to recover from a calf injury, so Michel Antonio is on track to move back in front, unless Lopetegui appeals Danny Ings Or Jarrod Bowen play in the middle.

Edson Alvarez was absent last weekend due to suspension, but the Mexican is now available for selection and could replace Guido Rodriguez in the midfield position, joining Tomas Soucek and Lucas Paquetá in the middle of the field.

Jean-Clair Todibo made his full Premier League debut against Brentford and he could continue his central defense partnership alongside Max Kilmanwhile Aaron Wan-Bissaka And Emerson Palmieri should keep their place in the back.

As for Ipswich, midfielder Jens Cajuste will miss this weekend’s match due to a “small knee problem”, while the physical condition of Harry Clarke (Achilles) and Nathan Broadhead (hamstring), who recently returned to training, will be evaluated.

McKenna will assess whether to hand over Jack Clarke another start on the left wing or recall another summer recruit Sammie Szmodicswhile Chiedozie Ogbène should have the green light to start right before Wes Brule.

A final four of Axel Tuanzebe, Dara O’Shea, Jacob Greves And Leif Davis should remain intact, while Kalvin Phillips – who spent the second half of last season on loan at West Ham – is expected to continue in midfield alongside captain Sam Morsy.

Possible West Ham United starting lineup:
Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson; Alvarez; Bowen, Soucek, Paqueta, Kudus; Anthony

Possible Ipswich Town starting line-up:
Muric; Tuanzebe, O’Shea, Greaves, Davis; Morsy, Phillips; Ogbene, Hutchinson, Szmodics; Délap

We say: West Ham United 1-2 Ipswich Town

The pieces aren’t falling into place for Lopetegui at West Ham, while in contrast Ipswich have made themselves difficult to beat in recent weeks and appear to be finding their feet under McKenna as a top club.

A close contest could be in store at the London Stadium, but we’re predicting a shocker in this one and Ipswich winning their first Premier League game of the season.

For a data analysis of the most likely outcomes, scores and more for this match, please click here.

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