Stoke City vs West Ham United. Premier League.
Bet365 StadiumAttendance27,721.
Sunday 15 May 2016 15:52, UK
West Ham will cap off an impressive season with a top-six finish if they beat Stoke at the Britannia on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.
After coming from behind to win against Manchester United in midweek, the Hammers could pip United to fifth if they get a favour from Bournemouth on the final day.
If the Cherries avoid defeat against United, then the Hammers could take advantage and move up up a place with victory.
Manager Slaven Bilic hopes they can replicate the performance that saw them beat United 3-2 in their final game at the Boleyn Ground on Tuesday.
"Stoke will want to finish on a high, but all we have to do is try to replicate the performance from Tuesday night and win the game," he said. "That will give us minimum sixth and if Manchester United slip up, we can move to fifth."
While the Hammers are looking up the table, Stoke are in danger of finishing in the bottom half after a poor run of form over the last two months.
Stoke have won just one of their last nine games and slip down to 11th if they lose to the Hammers and Swansea beat Manchester City.
Team news
Stoke midfielder Stephen Ireland is expected to be sidelined for eight or nine months after suffering a double leg fracture in training during the week.
The Potters also have Ibrahim Afellay, Marc Wilson (both knee) and Jack Butland (ankle) unavailable.
Sunday's game could see Glen Johnson and Shay Given back involved after spells out with knee and groin problems respectively.
Goalkeeper Adrian remains West Ham's only absentee as he is still recovering from a calf problem, so Darren Randolph will continue to deputise.
Boss Slaven Bilic has an otherwise fully fit squad to choose from.
Opta stats
Stoke are unbeaten in their last five Premier League matches against West Ham (W2 D3).
The Hammers have won just one of their six final day Premier League matches away from home (W1 D1 L4).
Stoke have won none of their last four Premier League matches at the Britannia Stadium (D2 L2). Not beating West Ham would see them equal their longest run without a home win in the Premier League (five games September 2012).
West Ham are unbeaten in their last five Premier League away games (W2 D3), scoring at least two goals in each of those matches.
West Ham will finish the season with a positive goal difference (currently +15) for the first time in a top-flight campaign since 1985/86.
The Hammers have already registered their best-ever points haul in a Premier League campaign (62, five more than their next best return of 57 in 1998/99).
Austrian attacker Marko Arnautovic needs one goal to become Stoke's outright top-scorer in a single Premier League campaign (currently level on 11 with Ricardo Fuller 08/09 and Mame Biram Diouf 14/15).
Merson's prediction
I'm doing this game for Soccer Special and I think the Hammers will win. If they do they have a chance of finishing fifth and after all their hard work the other day, they will be keen to get another good result. Stoke have played some good football through the season but sometimes they are not as hard to beat as they used to be.
They are good footballers and you are always going to get hot and cold when you get those kind of players. Some of them are luxury players and when they are hot they are hot and when they are cold they are cold.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (15/2 with Sky Bet)
Betting
Sky Bet offer 11/10 against the Hammers following up Tuesday's dramatic victory over Man United with another win at Stoke, with Mark Hughes' hosts on offer at 9/4 and the draw priced at 5/2.
West Ham's last nine Premier League games have contained at least three goals and over 2.5 can be backed at 4/7 with Sky Bet.
