West Ham United will look to bounce back from three successive disappointing Premier League results when they host Watford at the London Stadium on Saturday.
The Irons followed up consecutive 1-1 draws at home to Bournemouth and Crystal Palace with a 3-1 defeat against Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium last weekend, which has left them six places but just three points above the relegation zone.
For some the results may have been seen as something of a positive given the injury problems and suspensions the east London outfit have been suffering from recently, however with a trip to Liverpool to follow their clash against the Hornets they will know that they need some points against Javi Gracia’s men, who beat Chelsea 4-1 at Vicarage Road on Monday night.
Irons boss David Moyes will be well aware that his team need to get back to winning ways sooner rather than later in what looks to be one of the fiercest and closest battles to stay in the top flight in recent years.
While the Scot doesn’t have too many options to mix things up right now – even though he could have Marko Arnautovic back in his squad after a hamstring injury – the former Everton and Manchester United manager is asking for trouble he fails to make a couple of alterations to his XI.
Here are two changes Moyes must make to his West Ham team when they host Watford…
Winston Reid for James Collins
Collins has started West Ham’s last four Premier League matches having spent a large amount of the season on the sidelines because of injury, but his spot in the team could be in jeopardy at the London Stadium on Saturday.
The 34-year-old had a bit of a shocker in the defeat against Brighton last weekend, and while he failed to play to the whistle for Glenn Murray’s opening goal for the Seagulls, he was also poor in possession throughout.
Moyes had Winston Reid and Jose Fonte sat on the substitutes’ bench at the Amex Stadium, and he must look to bring the former back in against Watford – especially with a potentially tough battle against Troy Deeney to come.
Reid has the experience and quality to deal with a talented Hornets frontline that includes Richarlison and Gerard Deulofeu, and his inclusion in the side could help the Irons pick up a much-needed three points.
Michail Antonio for Sam Byram
Antonio missed out on the squad altogether against Crystal Palace after failing to turn up to a team meeting on time, while he only made the substitutes’ bench against Brighton on Saturday, before coming on in the second-half.
Byram started as a right wing-back in a 3-4-2-1 formation against the Seagulls with Pablo Zabaleta in the middle, and while Moyes should look to bring in Antonio for Byram, it won’t be a straight swap if the Scot chooses to keep with the same formation.
Zabaleta would go to the right side and Cheikhou Kouyate would drop back into the centre of the midfield alongside Mark Noble, leaving Michail Antonio and Joao Mario to support Javier Hernandez in attack.
While Antonio hasn’t been able to replicate his form from last season this term, he has the strength, pace and quality to really give Watford some problems on Saturday, and he can help his team pick up some much-needed points against a defence that has looked fragile on more than a few occasions during the current campaign.
Do you agree, Irons fans? Let us know below.
