Everton vs West Ham Preview: Managerial Chaos Meets Fortress Merseyside
This Monday night Premier League clash at the Hill Dickinson Stadium presents a stark contrast: a West Ham side in managerial chaos travelling to face an Everton team led by their former, successful manager, David Moyes, in their new, unbeaten fortress.
Match Context: West Ham’s Shock Sacking
The major talking point is the instability at West Ham United. Following a 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace last weekend—their fourth defeat in five matches this season—manager Graham Potter was shockingly sacked on Saturday morning after just 25 games in charge. While his six wins made his departure understandable, the timing creates immediate upheaval. With five coaches also departing and Nuno Espírito Santo tipped as the front-runner to take over, it remains uncertain who will be in the dugout for the trip to Merseyside. The Hammers have started the season poorly, losing all three of their home fixtures at the London Stadium.
The irony of this fixture is rich, as it pits the turbulent Hammers against an Everton side now led by David Moyes, who brought stability and European football to East London before his recent, much-celebrated return to the Toffees.
Everton’s Recent Form and New Home Advantage
While the visitors are in disarray, Everton must also shake off a disappointing week. Their recent fixtures saw them narrowly beaten 2-0 by Liverpool in the Merseyside derby and then frustrated by a 2-0 EFL Cup loss to bottom-of-the-table Wolves, a result largely blamed on Moyes’ heavy squad rotation.
Crucially, however, Everton remain unbeaten and have yet to concede a goal in their new home at the Hill Dickinson Stadium (Bramley-Moore Dock), a streak they will be desperate to maintain against a vulnerable opponent.
In terms of head-to-head history, West Ham holds a decent recent record at Everton’s previous ground, having lost only one of their last five visits to Goodison Park. However, the overall record stands heavily in Everton’s favour, with 75 wins to West Ham’s 45 across 153 matches.
Team News and Predicted Lineups
Everton Team News: David Moyes is expected to revert to his preferred starting XI after rotating heavily in the EFL Cup. Jarrad Branthwaite remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, meaning James Tarkowski and Michael Keane will partner in central defence. Midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is one yellow card away from a suspension after being cautioned in his last four Premier League games.
- Everton Predicted XI (4-3-3): Pickford; O’Brien, Keane, Tarkowski, Garner; Gana Gueye, Iroegbunam, Dewsbury-Hall; Grealish, Ndiaye; Beto.
- Player to Watch: Iliman Ndiaye is a man for monumental occasions, having scored the last goal at Goodison and the first at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
West Ham Team News: The abrupt change in management makes their team selection highly unpredictable. It’s unclear if Mads Hermansen or Alphonse Areola will start in goal. Similarly, it will be fascinating to see if Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who reportedly fell out with Potter, is immediately reinstated. Tomáš Souček continues to serve the second match of his three-game suspension.
- West Ham Predicted XI (4-3-3): Hermansen; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Diouf; Magassa, Fernandes, Paquetá; Bowen, Summerville; Wilson.
- Player to Watch: Jarrod Bowen remains the talisman, scoring last weekend. All three of his career goals against Everton have come at the London Stadium—can he break that away drought?
Prediction
Given West Ham’s managerial crisis, a poor run of form, and Everton’s solid, undefeated record at their new stadium, the home side enters as clear favourites. They will be keen to address the disappointment of their midweek cup exit with a much-needed league victory.
Everton 2-0 West Ham United
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