David Moyes looks set to make four West Ham changes for the big one against Bayer Leverkusen and it’s do or die.
So here we are, the night of reckoning for West Ham as they look to pull off one of the greatest night’s in the club’s history.
Many feel West Ham are facing mission impossible against Bayer Leverkusen in their Europa League quarter-final second leg.
There’s no denying it’s going to be a tough ask. But it’s no Mount Everest.
The Hammers must overturn a 2-0 deficit against the newly-crowned German champions.
West Ham will be hoping that Leverkusen have a hangover from celebrating their first ever Bundesliga title.
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Although Xabi Alonso has responded to David Moyes’ hopes that Leverkusen will be feeling the effects of a few too many big German beers.
Moyes’ boys must somehow claw their way back into the tie at 2-0 down from the first leg.
The Irons know they have to win by two goals to take the tie to extra-time. Or win by three within 120 minutes to avoid penalties and make the semi-finals.
West Ham legend Tony Cottee has had a remarkable dream ahead of the game. And we’ll all be hoping he’s right.
Xabi Alonso’s invincibles showed just how accomplished they are in the first leg. And they extended their unbeaten run to 43 games at the weekend.
The manager knows his team will have to pick and choose their moments carefully against such a dangerous team.
Dinos, Paqueta and Emerson out but Bowen back
West Ham will be without suspended duo Lucas Paqueta and Emerson Palmieri for the clash.
Defender Konstantinos Mavropanos is a big doubt too.
Top scorer Jarrod Bowen is expected to start in a major boost after he returned to training yesterday.
Edson Alvarez is available having been suspended for the first leg too.
Kalvin Phillips and Alphonse Areola may be back in the squad but neither are likely to threaten the starting XI given Lukasz Fabianski is West Ham’s “cup keeper” anyway.
The official team will be announced at around 6.45pm.
And we predict Moyes makes four West Ham changes for the big one against Bayer Leverkusen.
Some believe Moyes may go with five at the back again. But the suspension of Emerson means he doesn’t really have the personnel to do that for this must win game.
Moyes to make four changes for Leverkusen
Captain Kurt Zouma comes in from the start in place of Mavropanos in change number one from the team which started against Fulham.
Aaron Cresswell replaces Emerson at left-back in change two.
Tomas Soucek will come back into the starting line-up in place of Paqueta while Bowen will take the place of Danny Ings in the fourth and final change.
It remains to be seen how Moyes plays it with his front three. But it’s reasonable to expect Bowen will play right, Kudus left and Antonio up top.
The Scot may elect to put Antonio left, Kudus right and play Bowen as the striker, though.
Whatever way he plays it from the start, that arrangement regularly changes in-game as the trio rotate around.
Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Bayer Leverkusen at the London Stadium:
Fabianski, Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Cresswell, Soucek, Alvarez, Ward-Prowse, Kudus, Bowen, Antonio.
