West Ham vs Sunderland Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Relegation-threatened West Ham will look to back up their win against Tottenham when they face Sunderland in the first Premier League fixture of the weekend.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / USA – USA Network
How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / USA – Fubo
West Ham team news: Diouf back from AFCON
El Hadji Malick Diouf has returned from his AFCON success with Senegal and could potentially go straight back into the starting line-up, although Nuno Espirito Santo could choose to hold him back for now.
Lucas Paqueta is allegedly injured but is also the subject of transfer speculation and will not feature here, while new loan signing Keiber Lamadrid is unlikely to be considered just yet as he builds his fitness up.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Todibo, Diouf; Soucek, Fernandes; Bowen, Pablo, Summerville; Castellanos
Unavailable: Fabianski (Injured), Paqueta (Injured)
Questionable: Diouf (Rested), Lamadrid (Fitness)
Sunderland team news: Duo return
Both Habib Diarra and Chemsdine Talbi are back from AFCON duty and Regis Le Bris has indicated that they could feature.
Arthur Masuaku and Bertrand Traore are the only known injury absentees are present.
Predicted XI (5-4-1): Roefs; Hume, Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Reinildo; Le Fee, Xhaka, Sadiki, Talbi; Brobbey
Unavailable: Masuaku (Injured), Traore (Injured)
Questionable: Diarra (Rested), Talbi (Rested)
West Ham vs Sunderland prediction
An injury-time Callum Wilson strike handed West Ham a much-needed three points against Tottenham last Saturday, although they are currently five points away from safety despite that 2-1 away success.
That win ended their ten-game winless run in the Premier League, and Espirito Santo will be desperate to see his side embark on a positive run of results now.
A come-from-behind victory over Crystal Palace at the Stadium of Light last weekend handed Sunderland their first Premier League win in six games, and they head into this fixture in a highly-respectable ninth position.
West Ham will be buoyed by their last-gasp win against Spurs, but Sunderland are a tough side to break down and the Black Cats will back themselves to keep the Hammers at bay. We're expecting a low-scoring affair in London.
West Ham vs Sunderland tip: Under 2.5 goals
