David Moyes looks set to make the one big West Ham change against Crystal Palace that fans have been calling for.
West Ham make the trip to south London to take on Crystal Palace in what has become another massive game.
Like Palace, West Ham’s recent revival in the Premier League looked to have made them all but safe.
But results elsewhere this week mean West Ham likely need at least one more win – possibly two – to secure survival.
Given the recent upturn in performances, there is hope that victory could come in the early kick-off against the Eagles at Selhurst Park.
But it will not be easy as the hosts have looked transformed since Roy Hodgson’s return. And they have some fine players such as Wilf Zaha, Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise.
David Moyes admitted he very much wanted to sign Eze before he joined Palace (Football.London).
The Scot revealed the Hammers simply did not have the requisite funds at the time as they waited to finalise the sale of Grady Diangana.
In the end West Ham moved for Said Benrahma on loan with an obligation to buy.
Moyes has taken a taskmaster approach to managing Benrahma and the pair have not always seen eye to eye.
Some have suggested that is because Moyes had Benrahma “forced” upon him by the board after missing out on Eze.
So often the first player Moyes substitutes, the Algerian has been one of the first names on his teamsheet in recent months.
But Benrahma continues to divide some West Ham fans who feel his end product is simply not good enough.
The winger was poor in the first half against Liverpool in midweek but improved in the second – a microcosm of the issues with his consistency.
Many Hammers supporters have been calling for Benrahma to be dropped and Maxwel Cornet or Pablo Fornals to be given their chance in the side.
We predict Moyes makes the one big West Ham change against Crystal Palace that fans have been calling for.
Unless there have been any injuries in training, it looks like it will be the same West Ham starting XI from the Liverpool match bar one change.
We think Benrahma will drop to the bench with either Fornals or Cornet coming in – most likely the former.
Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Palace:
Fabianski, Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Cresswell, Rice, Soucek, Paqueta, Bowen, Fornals or Cornet, Antonio.
