Lopetegui to reinstate West Ham international in starting XI against Man United – report

On Wednesday, October 23, it was reported that West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui is set to drop either Guido Rodriguez or Tomas Soucek to make way for Edson Alvarez in their upcoming match against Manchester United.

The Hammers will host Erik ten Hag’s side at the London Stadium on Sunday, October 27, looking to bounce back after suffering a heavy 4-1 defeat to Tottenham in their previous match.

Lopetegui has expressed concern about his team’s struggle to control the game’s tempo this season and believes starting Alvarez could help address that issue.

With West Ham in need of victories to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle, the pressure is on Lopetegui to find a winning formula.

Although facing Manchester United is a tough challenge, the Hammers have the potential to secure a win if they perform to their capabilities in front of their home crowd.

Alvarez, who has yet to hit his stride this season, possesses the ability to impact the game positively.

His inclusion in the starting lineup could inject some much-needed energy and aggression into the midfield.

Rodriguez and Soucek have struggled to operate effectively as a duo in the midfield, as both lack the necessary pace, leading to their being outmatched, as evidenced in their last outing against Tottenham.

While Alvarez may not be the fastest player, his mobility surpasses that of the other available options for Lopetegui.

Thus, bringing Alvarez back into the starting eleven appears to be a wise decision that could enhance the team’s performance.