With just three wins from their 11 league games so far this season, Manuel Pellegrini’s West Ham United are in search of some inspiration.
They will quickly have to turn things around to try and get back into the top half of the table but face a tricky trip to Turf Moor in the league this weekend. Pellegrini’s men face a Burnley side who have now lost three games on the trot.
Sean Dyche’s men have accumulated a point less than the Hammers, but playing at home, they will believe that they can take something from this game.
The Clarets have beaten West Ham in two of their last three meetings but with both teams in desperate need of three crucial points, this game is well poised, even for the neutral.
West Ham Team News
In early team news, the Hammers are still without Michail Antonio and Lukasz Fabianski, both of who are nursing long term injuries.
Jack Wilshere missed the last two games with a niggle, and will be assessed ahead of this game alongside Winston Reid, who is yet to be declared match fit.
Predicted West Ham Lineup vs Burnley
Defence
Roberto Jimenez has been exposed far too often at the back and could have a similar outing against Burnley, who will look to take on the visitors.
Issa Diop remains a regular in the first team under Pellegrini and will retain his place in the side at the back. Fabian Balbuena, though a bit shaky at the back, scored West Ham’s first against Newcastle last weekend, and should make the West Ham lineup again.
Ryan Fredericks came on for Pablo Zabaleta and made an instant impact. He should start at right-back for this game. Aaron Cresswell will have his work cut out against the likes of Dwight McNeil and Jay Rodriguez, starting at left-back.
Midfield
Declan Rice has been overworked in the midfield in the last few games. Up against Jack Cork and Ashley Westwood, he is expected to keep Burnley from testing West Ham’s backline regularly. He will need Mark Noble to drop deep constantly, to try and add some mettle to the midfield.
Noble will start in a box-to-box role while Robert Snodgrass, who has scored in the last two games for the club, is expected to add some creativity to the West Ham midfield.
Felipe Anderson has been effective in build-up play but is yet to score a goal. He will start on the left flank and will look to test Matthew Lowton at the back. Andriy Yarmolenko has not been consistent this season and his place in the side is surely under threat. But he adds a different dimension to the West Ham attack and could also keep his place in the side for this weekend.
Attack
Sebastien Haller has drawn a blank in each of the last three league games. He will have a tough night against the likes of Ben Mee and James Tarkowski, who will look to keep him from testing Nick Pope’s goal.
Here is how they might line up:
