Newcastle will face West Ham with both teams looking to make an impact. With just a week of the Premier League season remaining, it’s time for some honest reflection.
Newcastle’s Strategy and Team Changes
Newcastle make two changes to the side which drew at Forest. Kieran Trippier is making his last appearance at SJP. Harvey Barnes also comes into the team, with Dan Burn and Joelinton dropping out. Anthony Gordon, likely to leave in the summer, remains on the bench, with Eddie Howe looking to next season with his selections.
Newcastle will look to use Woltemade as a pivot, playing into him as he drops off, with Barnes, Ramsey and Osula attacking space in behind. He’s also expected to hit the box, looking to get on the end of crosses, especially high ones, with width supplied by Trippier and Lewis Hall. Bruno Guimarães and Sandro Tonali will look to control midfield, outrunning but also outplaying West Ham’s trio.
West Ham’s Approach and Lineup
West Ham go for experience, Callum Wilson surprisingly replacing Taty Castellanos.
West Ham will want to clutter up the middle of the pitch forcing Newcastle to go around them. If they pick their moments judiciously, they’ve the quality to play through Newcastle. Bowen and Summerville are dynamite on the counter and they’ll be haring forward at every opportunity, liberated, you assume, from the majority of defensive duties. Nuno will want El-Hadjo Diouf to motor down the left, looking to sling over crosses for Wilson and Tomas Soucek, who is expected to be dangerous at set-pieces.
Starting Lineups
The confirmed team line-ups are as follows:
- Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Pope; Trippier, Botman, Thiaw, Hall; Guimaraes, Tonali; Ramsey, Woltemade, Barnes; Osula. Subs: Burn, Elanga, Gordon, Murphy A, Murphy J, Neave, Ramsdale, Willock, Wissa.
- West Ham United (3-4-2-1): Hermansen; Mavropanos, Todibo, Disasi; Wan-Bissaka, Fernandes, Soucek, Diouf; Bowen, Summerville; Wilson. Subs: Areola, Castellanos, Kanté, Kilman, Magassa, Pablo, Potts, Scarles, Walker-Peters.
The Referee
The referee for the match is Jarred Gillett from Gold Coast, Australia.
The level beneath the standard at the top – from sixth all the way down to 18th – has never been higher, anywhere.