Relegation battling West Ham host Aston Villa at London Stadium in a crucial Premier League encounter.
Victory would lift West Ham out of the relegation zone into 14th position, whilst Villa will stay 11th with a win.
Team News
Lucas Paqueta (pictured) and Michail Antonio are doubts for West Ham after the pair suffered calf injuries during their win at AEK Larnaca in UEFA Europa Conference League.
Vladimir Coufal (heel) and Flynn Downes (ankle) are also doubtful after the Hammers’ midweek exploits in Cyprus.
Goalkeeper, Lukasz Fabianski (eye/cheekbone) remains absent.
Villa could welcome defender, Diego Carlos back into contention following his recovery from an Achilles injury.
Leandro Dendoncker (unspecified) is a doubt Boubacar Kamara (leg), Philippe Coutinho (muscle) and Jed Steer (Achilles) remain ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
West Ham host Aston Villa in a 2pm GMT kick-off at London Stadium on Sunday 12 March, albeit untelevised in the UK.
Stat Attack
- West Ham are unbeaten in their last nine league meetings against Aston Villa (W6, D3).
- Aston Villa are winless in three previous visits to London Stadium (D1, L2).
- West Ham are yet to keep a clean sheet at home against Villa in three meetings since moving to the London Stadium in summer 2016.
- David Moyes’ Hammers are yet to lose at home in 2023 (W2, D1).
- Villa have lost just one of four away matches in 2023 (W3, L1), during which Ollie Watkins has scored in each of their last three away trips.
Prediction
Inconsistency seems to best sum up West Ham’s season because after mauling Nottingham Forest two weeks ago, West Ham were thrashed at Brighton last weekend yet managed to clinically beat AEK Larnaca in midweek in a disciplined display but now need to refocus on domestic priorities.
Villa meanwhile have returned to winning ways in the past fortnight but were lucky to scrape a win against Crystal Palace last weekend, courtesy of an own-goal amidst their excellent attacking intensity which lacked much end product.
Unai Emery’s Villains though don’t seem to have the best record against West Ham but with the Hammers out of form, this is their best chance yet at ending their hoodoo and I do feel like they might just achieve that if they’re clinical and can target West Ham’s defensive vulnerabilities.
Prediction: West Ham 1-2 Aston Villa
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