West Ham v Bournemouth preview: Dimitri Payet set to start
Sunday 21 August 2016 15:14, UK
Dimitri Payet could be handed his first start of the season as West Ham prepare to host Bournemouth in the first ever Premier League game at the London Stadium on Super Sunday.
The Frenchman was introduced as a second-half substitute during their 2-1 defeat to Chelsea on Monday night, but looks set to be named in the starting XI against the Cherries.
Bournemouth were also beaten in their opening game last Sunday, but will take heart from the fact their first ever Premier League victory came away at West Ham last season.
Team news
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic looks likely to shuffle his pack after their Europa League play-off draw with Astra Giurgiu on Thursday night.
Aaron Cresswell and Manuel Lanzini (both knee) are missing while Andre Ayew could miss four months with a thigh injury and Diafra Sakho (back) and Sofiane Feghouli (hamstring) are also absent.
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe is expected to retain much of the team that lost to Manchester United last Sunday. Howe refused to be disheartened by their 3-1 home defeat, believing the game to have been "even".
He remains without the injured Junior Stanislas, owing to a groin injury, while Tyrone Mings is not expected to return until September.
Opta stats
West Ham scored three times in both games against Bournemouth last season, winning one (3-1) and losing one (3-4).
The Hammers' defeat to Bournemouth at Upton Park last season was their only home defeat in four meetings with the Cherries in all competitions, winning the other three (1929, 1990 and 1999).
The Olympic Stadium will be the 55th venue to host a Premier League match. West Ham are the 10th Premier League club to play home games at two different stadiums.
Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson scored a hat-trick in Bournemouth's win away at West Ham last season and is only one of four players to net a treble away at the Hammers in the Premier League.
The Cherries have picked up just one point in their last six Premier League matches (W0 D1 L5).
Benik Afobe scored three goals in his first four Premier League games for Bournemouth, but has netted just once in his 12 appearances since.
Bournemouth won three of their five away trips to London in the Premier League last season (W3 D0 L2).
Payet has had a hand in 11 goals in his last 13 Premier League appearances for West Ham (three goals, eight assists).
Paul Merson's prediction
West Ham will be hoping to avoid a repeat of last season, when Bournemouth ripped them to shreds! It shouldn't be too much of a problem, though, because I can't see anything other than a West Ham win this time.
The Cherries have a lot of possession but don't really look like scoring and I think they need to change a couple of things.
West Ham have the players and it's a nice game to open the London Stadium. Bilic has more match-winners on his team and that could make the difference.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 7/1)
