Bournemouth vs West Ham preview
Watch match highlights at 5.15pm on skysports.com and the Sky Sports app
Friday 27 September 2019 17:54, UK
Team news, key stats and predictions ahead of Bournemouth vs West Ham in the Premier League.
Team news
Bournemouth have been boosted by the return to fitness of Simon Francis, Lloyd Kelly and Arnaut Danjuma. Francis (knee), Kelly (ankle) and Danjuma (foot) all played in the midweek Carabao Cup defeat by Burton.
Cherries boss Eddie Howe reported no fresh injury concerns, with Charlie Daniels (knee), Dan Gosling (hip), Adam Smith (hamstring), David Brooks (ankle) and Junior Stanislas (knee) all continuing their own recovery.
Manuel Lanzini returns to the West Ham squad for the trip to the Vitality Stadium. There were fears the midfielder could be out for a month with the foot injury he suffered on international duty with Argentina but he returned to training earlier this week. Michail Antonio remains unavailable but Manuel Pellegrini has no other fitness concerns.
How to watch
Follow the action with our dedicated live blog. Highlights of the game will be published at 5.15pm on the Sky Sports website and app plus the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel.
Opta stats
- Bournemouth are unbeaten in five Premier League matches against West Ham United (W3 D2 L0) since losing 1-0 in August 2016.
- The four previous Premier League meetings between Bournemouth and West Ham at Vitality Stadium have produced 17 goals (nine for Bournemouth, eight for West Ham).
- Against no other side have Bournemouth won more Premier League games than they have against West Ham (four wins, level with Swansea City).
- 22 of the 30 goals scored in Premier League games between Bournemouth and West Ham have been scored in the second-half (73 per cent), including 10 of the last 11.
- Bournemouth are looking to win three consecutive Premier League games for the first time since a run of four wins between May-August 2018, while they're looking to do so within a single season for the first time since March 2016.
- After previously going on a run of seven defeats in eight away Premier League games (W0 D1 L7), West Ham United are now unbeaten in their last five on the road in the competition (W3 D2). They last had a longer unbeaten away run in the top-flight in January 2009 (7 games).
Charlie's prediction
This is the best group West Ham have had in the Premier League. Manuel Pellegrini has bought well; they are aggressive at the back, have a great balance across the park and have a very consistent goalkeeper in Lukasz Fabianski. Is it motivation for both these sides following their Carabao Cup exits?
Despite the changes, that will wind them up for the weekend so we should get a good game. I like Sebastian Haller - he has got a great touch and looks a permanent goal-threat. I cannot separate these two.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: 2-2 (10/1 with Sky Bet)
Fantasy Football tip
Lukasz Fabianski (£6.7m) made the Fantasy Team of the Week after his performance against Manchester United, registering a third successive clean sheet for West Ham. Trying to net past him will be Callum Wilson (£9.9m), who has four goals in his last three Premier League games.
