A welcome return to Premier League action for both teams after midweek games in the FA Cup, and there is plenty on the line at the London Stadium. An entertaining 3-3 draw on Boxing Day at the Vitality Stadium is fresh in the minds of both sets of fans, and both teams are looking to continue their push away from the relegation zone.
Bournemouth nicked a point against the Hammers on Boxing Day thanks to a controversial late goal, and David Moyes will certainly be looking to pick all three points this time on home turf.
When and Where Is the Match?
Bournemouth will make the relatively short trip to the London Stadium on Saturday afternoon to play West Ham, with kick-off at 3pm.
Which Team Is In Better Form?
There were differing fortunes for the teams in mid-week as the Cherries crashed out of the FA Cup having fielded a 2nd string team at League One high flyers Wigan. West Ham did manage to progress against Shrewsbury but only by the skin of their teeth, thanks to an extra-time goal from Reece Burke.
Away from the FA Cup, it has been a positive few weeks for Bournemouth with no defeats in four Premier League matches seeing them move into 13th place in the Premier League table, with their 2-1 win against Arsenal last weekend the best result of the season. Goals from Callum Wilson and Jordon Ibe saw the Cherries come from behind to down the Gunners, and that means they should travel to London in good heart.
The Iron hold a similar recent record with no defeats in their last four top flight games and David Moyes has worked wonders since arriving to very little fanfare to replace Slaven Bilic. A quite brilliant attacking display saw Huddersfield beaten 4-1 last weekend with Manuel Lanzini and Marko Arnautovic continuing their rich vein of form by cutting the Terriers defence to ribbons.
Team News
Speculation continues to swirl around Andy Carroll at the moment with the big Hammers Striker being linked with a move to Chelsea in the media. Moyes has a decision to make if he is available for selection but an ankle injury could rule the 29-year-old out of the game either way.
Javier Hernandez is also being touted for a move away from the London Stadium, but he could return to the match day squad having been out with an illness of late. Winston Reid, Jose Fonte, Diafra Sakho and Fernandes will all continue be missing with longer term issues.
As for Bournemouth, Jermain Defoe, Josh King, Junior Stanislas and Tyrone Mings have all been out for a while, and are unavailable for selection.
Predicted Line-ups
West Ham:
Adrian; Collins, Obgonna, Cresswell, Zabaleta, Kouyate, Obiang, Noble, Masuaku, Lanzini; Arnautovic
Bournemouth:
Begovic; Francis, Cook, Ake; Smith, Cook, Gosling, Daniels, Ibe, Wilson, Fraser
West Ham v Bournemouth Head-To-Head Record
There have been five meetings between these two teams since Bournemouth arrived in the top flight back in 2015, and history suggests that entertainment is on the cards.
We have already mentioned the 3-3 draw on Boxing Day, and that is not the only time they have served up a goal fest. A 1-0 win for the Iron last season is the only one of the five matches which has failed to see both teams scoring, and in total there have been 23 goals in those five games in the Premier League.
- 26th Dec 2017 - Bournemouth 3-3 West Ham
- 11th Mar 2017 - Bournemouth 3-2 West Ham
- 21st Aug 2106 - West Ham 1-0 Bournemouth
- 12th Jan 2016 - Bournemouth 1-3 West Ham
- 22nd Aug 2015 - West Ham 3-4 Bournemouth
Match Prediction
Two well matched squads in similar form but West Ham may have struck gold last weekend with Lanzini and Arnautovic developing a telepathic understanding at Huddersfield, and that could be the difference.
David Moyes will be desperate to improve the Hammers home record, and up against a Bournemouth side who were knocked out of the FA Cup by a League One side in mid-week, they have a great opportunity to move into the top half of the Premier League. The Cherries are more than capable of scoring, with Ibe and Wilson the key men for Howe, but in general they have been short of goals on their travels.
Prediction - West Ham 3-1 Bournemouth
