West Ham United and Newcastle United will be desperate to grab all three points when they face off at the London Stadium on Saturday.

The games continue to come thick and fast in a busy second half of the season, and Gameweek 26 of the 2021/22 campaign will kick off on Saturday. West Ham United and Newcastle United will be in action in the opening match-up of the latest round of fixtures, with the two teams going head to head in Saturday’s lunch-time kick-off.

West Ham United are again in contention for a top-four finish in the Premier League going into the season’s final months. But the Hammers’ form is problematic, even though they have lost only twice in eight games in 2022. However, with very little margin for error in the top-four battle, David Moyes’s men can ill afford a slip-up in the coming weeks.

On the other hand, Newcastle United have unsurprisingly enjoyed an upturn in form and fortunes following their January splurge in the transfer window. The Magpies still sit perilously close to the relegation zone, but a five-game unbeaten run in the Premier League has helped them pull four points clear of 18th-placed Norwich City, having played a game less.

West Ham United came from a goal down to beat Newcastle United 4-2 in the reverse fixture, played on the opening matchday in August. Ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides, The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter.

Team News & Tactics

West Ham United

David Moyes does not have any fresh injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of the visit of Newcastle United. On Saturday, the West Ham United manager will be bereft of the services of only two first-team players, with Angelo Ogbonna and Arthur Masuaku recovering from their respective knee injuries.

In Ogbonna’s continued absence, Craig Dawson will continue as Kurt Zouma’s central defensive partner. The two West Ham centre-backs will provide an imposing presence during set-piece situations at either end, adding a new dimension to the Hammers’ attacking play. Vladimir Coufal and Aaron Cresswell will be the two full-backs, with the latter on set-piece duty.

Up ahead in midfield, Declan Rice will be West Ham’s main man. The English international will look to push West Ham forward with purpose while combining with Tomas Soucek off the ball to curb the influence of Allan Saint-Maximin and Ryan Fraser.

Jarrod Bowen is one of the most in-form players in the Premier League, and the Englishman will have the onus on him to carve out the openings in the final third. Bowen will link up with Manuel Lanzini and Pablo Fornals in West Ham’s creative trifecta, with the trio setting up Michail Antonio. Speaking of Antonio, the Jamaican international will be eager to get his lost form back.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Coufal, Dawson, Zouma, Cresswell; Soucek, Rice; Bowen, Lanzini, Fornals; Antonio

Newcastle United

Unlike his counterpart in the West Ham United dugout, Eddie Howe has plenty of pressing fitness issues to contend with ahead of the trip to the London Stadium. The Newcastle United manager will be missing the services of five first-team players.

The major absentees are Kieran Trippier (fractured foot) and Callum Wilson (thigh), with the duo unavailable for at least two months. In addition to Trippier and Wilson, Federico Fernandez (thigh), Javier Manquillo (ankle) and Matt Ritchie (knee) are also sidelined.

But there is some good news, too, as Jamaal Lascelles has recovered from an illness, while Matt Targett is back in contention after missing the game against Aston Villa because he was ineligible to play against his parent club.

While Targett will return to the starting eleven straight away, Lascelles will miss out, with Fabian Schar and Dan Burn pairing up at the heart of the Newcastle United defence. Emil Krafth is a certain starter on the right flank in the absence of Trippier and Manquillo.

Up ahead in midfield, Jonjo Shelvey will be responsible for keeping a check on Jarrod Bowen and Manuel Lanzini’s output. The holding midfielder will receive defensive support from Joe Willock and Joelinton, who has brilliantly reinvented as a central midfielder. Bruno Guimaraes will thus be restricted to appearing off the bench again.

Finally, in Wilson’s absence, Chris Wood will spearhead the Newcastle attack, with Allan Saint-Maximin and Ryan Fraser being the two wide men. While Saint-Maximin will provide a direct threat, Fraser will aim to carve out the openings in the final third with his creative guile.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Dubravka; Krafth, Schar, Burn, Targett; Willock, Shelvey, Joelinton; Fraser, Wood, Saint-Maximin

Key Stats

  • Newcastle United are vying to earn three consecutive away league wins against West Ham United for the first time ever. The Magpies have won three of their four Premier League matches at the London Stadium.
  • West Ham United have scored in each of their opening 12 home games of a top-flight season for the first time since 1986/87. Furthermore, only Liverpool have scored more Premier League goals from corners than West Ham’s nine this season.
  • Newcastle United have earned 11 points in their past five Premier League matches, in contrast to 10 points from their opening 18. The Magpies are vying to win four league games in a row for the first time since April 2018.
  • West Ham United have won five of their last 14 Premier League matches, compared to seven of their opening 11 this season.
  • Jarrod Bowen has been directly involved in eight of West Ham’s last ten goals in all competitions, scoring seven times and providing one assist. On Newcastle’s end, Chris Wood has scored seven goals in nine Premier League appearances against West Ham.

Player to Watch

Michail Antonio

Embed from Getty Images

Antonio was the main man for West Ham United in the early part of the season, scoring goals for fun while also breaking a few records. But as the campaign has worn on, the experienced striker’s form has waned considerably, taking a back seat in West Ham’s attacking play.

Jarrod Bowen has taken on the mantle of carrying the bulk of the responsibility in the final third, and it is high time that Antonio rediscovered his form. With Newcastle United missing a key defender in Kieran Trippier, West Ham could find a way to carve the visitors’ defence open better, and Antonio will have a good chance to end his indifferent run.

Prediction

West Ham United 2-1 Newcastle United

West Ham United have blown hot and cold in recent weeks, meaning the three points will be up for grabs in Saturday’s game. Newcastle United have been on a resurgent run lately, inspired by the exploits of January signing Kieran Trippier.

But with Trippier and Callum Wilson out injured, the scales could be tipped in West Ham’s favour this weekend. The Magpies have a superb recent run at the London Stadium, but they might fall just short on Saturday, with the in-form Jarrod Bowen inspiring West Ham to a 2-1 win.

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