Newcastle United vs West Ham Match Preview and Predictions

Newcastle United vs West Ham Match Preview and Predictions

West Ham travel to St James’ Park on Saturday with both sides in desperate need of points. It has been a tough start for both Bilic and Benitez’s Premier League campaign, having suffered two defeats from two. The game does promise to provide points though, let’s hope it can produce goals too.

Goals have been hard to come by for Rafa Benitez’s side, suffering a 2-0 defeat to Spurs on the opening day, followed by a bitterly disappointing 1-0 loss to Huddersfield. Slaven Bilic’s Hammers have lost their opening two games of the season too, losing 4-0 to Manchester United and 3-2 to Southampton in heartbreaking fashion.

Bilic will find himself without two key players at Newcastle, with Winston Reid out injured and Marko Arnautovic suspended, and the Croatian boss will be feeling the heat from the board who have been rumoured to be chasing Benitez as his successor.

Midfielders Cheikhou Kouyate and Manuel Lanzini, as well as striker Andy Carroll are all back in training and pushing for game time – but it seems unlikely they will play a part.



In the Premier League era, there have been 38 encounters between the two sides. Newcastle have won the majority with 17, West Ham have won 11 and there have been 10 draws. Their last five head-to-head meetings have seen Newcastle win 3 and West Ham the other 2.

Predicted XI

Hart

Zabaleta, Fonte, Ogbonna

Antonio, Noble, Rice, Obiang, Cresswell

Ayew, Hernandez

Predicted score – 1-2