Football Preview | West Ham v Crystal Palace

Can West Ham United players ease the pressure on their manager?

Two sides in starkly different form meet here. 

Author | Jamie Pugh

Stadium | London Stadium

View from the stands at West Ham v Chelsea

West Ham’s season has begun in grim fashion, with four defeats in their opening five competitive fixtures. Their struggles at home are particularly stark, having failed to win any of their past seven league matches at the London Stadium. Defensively they remain vulnerable, conceding 11 goals in just four Premier League outings.

Crystal Palace, by contrast, are yet to taste defeat this season, their progress underpinned by a formidable back line that has shipped only one league goal. Turning stalemates into victories has proved more difficult, with just one win from their last six league games. Even so, their away form in London derbies is impressive, with four clean sheets in five.

Team News

West Ham manager Graham Potter is dealing with a mounting selection headache. Midfield linchpin Tomáš Souček begins a three-match suspension, while injuries to Niclas Füllkrug, Luis Guilherme and George Earthy leave his forward line depleted. The return of Crysencio Summerville offers at least a glimmer of attacking invention.

Crystal Palace are not without their own concerns. Oliver Glasner remains without several key players, with Ismaïla Sarr and Eddie Nketiah doubtful and Adam Wharton facing a late fitness test. Jefferson Lerma is expected to come back into the side after being rested for the midweek Carabao Cup win over Millwall.

The mood of West Ham fans going into this match

West Ham struggling to defend against Tottenham

After the Spurs defeat, Paul a West Ham season ticket holder, told us: “Fragile in defence, sluggish in midfield and with their striker left on the bench, West Ham look bereft of ideas. Graham Potter’s tactical approach is proving difficult to fathom, and questions are being asked about the wider direction of the club. The current run of results is the kind associated with relegation, and unless fortunes change swiftly, pressure on the manager will only intensify.”

Daz had similar thoughts, he added: “I had hoped Graham Potter’s appointment would bring stability and was willing to give him time, but that patience has run out. West Ham are now embroiled in a relegation battle, their defensive weaknesses laid bare, and the manager has offered little in the way of solutions.”

Palace fans analyse cup triumph over Millwall

Palace v Millwall Carabao Cup

Richard said: “Not the most convincing performance, but there were positives in Canvot and Benitez. The team struggled with quality in and around the box, and final passes were consistently poor. It is easy to see why Glasner sticks with the same starting eleven Yeremy and Uche are not yet fully ready, and Esse had a particularly poor game. Penalties were handled well. Overall, a tough match but an important win to maintain the unbeaten run.”

Stephen added: “Crystal Palace were underwhelming. The lack of composure in tight, crowded areas was clear, and the combination of Hughes and Kamada did not click, with Kamada’s wayward distribution stifling momentum. Esse and Pino were particularly disappointing. Despite that, the team remains through, and the hope is that Wharton and Sarr will be available for the weekend clash with West Ham.”