Stoke City vs West Ham United. Premier League.
Bet365 StadiumAttendance29,265.
Saturday 16 December 2017 13:34, UK
Stoke boss Mark Hughes does not anticipate Marko Arnautovic getting a great reception when he returns to the Potters for the first time since leaving the club for West Ham in the summer.
The Austrian departed Stoke one year into a four-year deal, stating at the time that it was an easy decision to leave the bet365 Stadium, which did not go down well with supporters.
"I don't think he'll get a good reception," said Hughes. "There's no bad feelings from my point of view. I would imagine maybe the circumstances of the transfer will be fresh in people's minds but he did great here.
"He's a good guy, good player, seems to be coming into a little bit of form for West Ham, which is a little bit of a worry because we know what he can produce. But hopefully he won't have an influential game."
David Moyes will be hoping his side can build on the win over Chelsea and draw with Arsenal in the last week, but West Ham will have to do it without Winston Reid.
Stoke will be without Kurt Zouma for the Premier League match against West Ham.
The on-loan Chelsea centre-back limped out of the midweek defeat at Burnley with a hamstring injury. Defender Bruno Martins Indi (groin) and full-back Glen Johnson (knee) are also unavailable.
On-loan Paris St Germain forward Jese is expected to return next week after travelling to Gran Canaria to be with his ill baby son and midfielder Stephen Ireland continues his recovery from a double leg fracture.
West Ham will be without Winston Reid through suspension for the trip to Stoke.
The defender picked up a fifth caution during the midweek draw against Arsenal, and so must serve a one-match ban.
Midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate is back in training following a hamstring injury, so could be in line for a return while forward Edimilson Fernandes will be assessed on an ankle problem and defender Jose Fonte (ankle) also continues his rehabilitation.
Stoke are unbeaten in all eight Premier League games against West Ham under Mark Hughes (W3 D5 L0).
But Stoke City have made their worst start to a Premier League after 17 games, winning just 16 points (W4 D4 L9).
Stoke City have won just 41 points from their last 41 Premier League matches under Mark Hughes (W10 D11 L20).
No side has kept fewer clean sheets in the Premier League this season than Stoke (2 - level with Crystal Palace).
West Ham have won just one of their last 16 Premier League away matches (W1 D6 L9) and none of their last nine on the road in the competition (W0 D3 L6).
David Moyes has overseen a win against Chelsea and a draw with Arsenal in his last two Premier League games as West Ham boss - he hasn't gone three unbeaten in the Premier League since March 2014 while at Manchester United.
Javier Hernandez has scored five Premier League goals against Stoke City, only scoring more against Wigan Athletic in the competition (6).
Saido Berahino has scored three PL goals against West Ham, his joint-highest tally versus a team alongside Crystal Palace and Sunderland. However, Berahino, who hasn't featured since November 4, has gone 32 hours and 14 minutes without a Premier League goal.
What a week for West Ham, phenomenal. Just got beaten by Manchester City, beat Chelsea, draw with Arsenal, and don't let in a goal in the last two games. Who would have thought that would happen in a month of Sundays? I saw them at Everton a few weeks ago and they got smashed.
But Stoke need to win this game and I don't like going against them at home. Their form recently has not been good but this is a must-win game. Mark Hughes will be under even more pressure from the fans if they don't win.
I like Mark. You have to take into consideration that they sold one of their best players in Marko Arnautovic and didn't really buy anybody. One of their best players now is Peter Crouch, who is 36. It looks to me like they have gone 'we are just going to stay up, what's the point in spending £80m or £90m, we are not going to get anywhere'.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-0 (6/1 with Sky Bet)
