West Ham United and Ipswich Town, both struggling for form, face off in what promises to be a thrilling Premier League encounter at the London Stadium this Saturday.
Julen Lopetegui’s West Ham are eager to end their winless run, while Ipswich are still searching for their first victory since returning to the top flight.
West Ham’s Desperate Search for a Win
West Ham United’s start to the 2024-25 Premier League season has been far from ideal. The Hammers have failed to secure a win in their last five matches across all competitions, a run that has put their manager, Julen Lopetegui, under immense pressure.
ALSO READ:
The only Premier League win they’ve managed this season came against Crystal Palace in late August, but since then, defensive weaknesses and a misfiring attack have kept them stuck in a frustrating winless rut.
With West Ham sitting just one point ahead of Ipswich in the standings, a win is crucial for Lopetegui’s side if they are to climb the table and restore confidence among their supporters.
Jambobet, the best Premier League prediction site.
Ipswich’s Quest for a First Premier League Win
Ipswich Town, on the other hand, have had a tough return to the Premier League. Although they’ve yet to secure a victory this season, the Tractor Boys have shown resilience, earning four draws from their six outings.
While they have managed to be difficult to beat, Ipswich’s lack of firepower upfront has prevented them from taking all three points in most matches.
ALSO READ:Liam Delap’s Double Salvages a 2-2 Draw for Ipswich Against Villa
Their draw against Aston Villa last weekend showed that Ipswich has the potential to cause problems for teams, especially with players like Liam Delap finding form after scoring a brace.
West Ham Team News: Fullkrug Still Out
West Ham’s injury concerns are limited, with summer signing Niclas Fullkrug the only absentee for the Hammers. Fullkrug, who joined from Borussia Dortmund, is expected to return after the October international break, but his absence has left West Ham’s attacking options somewhat limited.
Julen Lopetegui has been making frequent changes to his lineup in recent matches, indicating that he’s still searching for the right balance.
Both Mohammed Kudus and Emerson Palmieri were substituted at halftime during the 1-1 draw against Brentford, which suggests more tweaks could be made ahead of the Ipswich game.
West Ham predicted lineup (4-2-3-1):
Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson; Soucek, Rodriguez; Bowen, Paqueta, Kudus; Antonio.
Ipswich Team News: Delap to Lead the Line
Ipswich Town’s squad is largely fit, with only Jens Cajuste and Harry Clarke unavailable due to injuries.
Manager Kieran McKenna will likely stick with the lineup that earned a hard-fought point against Aston Villa, with Liam Delap expected to lead the attack once again after his impressive brace last weekend.
Delap’s form will be key, but Ipswich will need their entire squad to be at their best to secure a positive result at the London Stadium.
Ipswich predicted lineup (4-2-3-1):
Muric; Tuanzebe, O’Shea, Greaves, Davis; Morsy, Phillips; Burns, Hutchinson, J. Clarke; Delap.
Predictions: A Hard-Fought Draw on the Cards?
Both West Ham and Ipswich have shown vulnerabilities in defense this season, which could lead to an open and entertaining match. However, neither side can afford to lose, especially as the pressure builds ahead of the international break.
Liam Delap will be Ipswich’s key man in attack, while West Ham’s attacking threat will likely come from Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta. West Ham has the advantage of playing at home, but Ipswich’s recent resilience means this match could go either way.
Jambobet, the top prediction site for the Premier League, has tipped this match to end in a draw, with a predicted scoreline of West Ham 2-2 Ipswich. Both sides have the potential to score, but defensive lapses could prevent either team from taking all three points.
