Julen Lopetegui has endured a difficult start to his new reign at West Ham United.
The Spaniard is already under pressure after a dismal run of just a single win from their five top-flight matches this season.
The Hammers’ previous league game saw them conceding three goals to suffer a discouraging 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea.
And then on Wednesday, they succumbed to another disappointing 5-1 loss to Liverpool, ending their Carabao Cup journey at the third-round stage.
Lopetegui will be looking to end their dismal run when he takes his team to West London to face Brentford in the Premier League this weekend.
Predicted West Ham XI vs Brentford
The Hammers boss made seven changes to the side that lost 3-0 to Chelsea for the Carabao Cup fixture in midweek. However, he is expected to restore his best team for Saturday’s away game at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Alphonse Areola will return between the sticks ahead of the 39-year-old Lukasz Fabianski. Vladimir Coufal and Aaron Cresswell should drop out of the team, allowing Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Emerson Palmeiri to play at right and left back positions.
However, we are backing Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo to retain their central defensive pairing this weekend against Brentford.
In midfield, Lopetegui may opt to start Guido Rodriguez and Tomas Soucek as Edson Alvarez is suspended following his red card in the Liverpool defeat.
Elsewhere, summer arrival Crysencio Summerville is expected to continue on the left wing after his good display at Anfield last time.
However, Lucas Paqueta should come into the team to play as an attacking midfielder, with Jarrod Bowen set to operate as a right winger.
Meanwhile, Niclas Fullkrug’s availability is doubtful and we are expecting Michail Antonio to play up front after the Jamaica international made a positive impact off the bench against Liverpool in midweek.
Predicted XI: Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson; Rodriguez, Soucek; Bowen, Paqueta, Summerville; Antonio
