Predicted: Lopetegui set to make one major change for Fulham clash
West Ham's new signing praises two standout players already at the club
A lot of questions will be answered when Julen Lopetegui names his West Ham team today as the Hammers return to Premier League action after the international break.
The two-week hiatus had West Ham fans busy debating which lineup Lopetegui should field against Fulham, especially after last season’s struggles against them.
West Ham lost both fixtures last season, including a heavy away defeat that contributed to the 74 goals they conceded across the campaign.
Lopetegui has almost entirely rebuilt the defense, bringing in Max Kilman, Jean-Clair Todibo, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
West Ham’s overall transfer window has been widely praised, with nine new players joining the squad.
Notably, the Hammers signed Crysencio Summerville from Leeds for £26m and added midfielders Carlos Soler and Guido Rodriguez to strengthen the center.
Fulham, meanwhile, have also made changes after losing key players, but they’ve brought in strong replacements, including Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson, both of whom were linked with West Ham during the summer.
History favors West Ham in this fixture, and Lopetegui will be looking to build momentum with his revamped squad at Craven Cottage.
However, he faces some selection dilemmas, especially regarding the midfield, center-back pairing, and, most notably, the forward line.
Niclas Fullkrug, West Ham’s new striker, is unlikely to feature due to injury.
Reports suggested he only had a 10% chance of being fit for the game, meaning Lopetegui will need to adjust his attacking options.
In what we predict to be the only change from the team that faced Manchester City, Summerville is expected to make his first Premier League start, stepping in for Michail Antonio.
Antonio recently played two demanding games for Jamaica, clocking 90 minutes and 86 minutes, followed by a long-haul flight back to London.
Given his intense schedule, West Ham will likely avoid risking his hamstrings in this game.
Many West Ham fans have called for Jean-Clair Todibo to replace Konstantinos Mavropanos at center-back.
However, Mavropanos has been solid for the Hammers and impressed during Greece’s international break with two clean sheets in their victories.
Despite the defensive debates, the most significant shift could come in the attack.
We anticipate Jarrod Bowen will move into the center-forward position, with Mohammed Kudus taking up Bowen’s usual role on the right wing and Summerville starting on the left.
Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Fulham: Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson, Rodriguez, Alvarez, Paqueta, Kudus, Summerville, Bowen.
This lineup would see Bowen as the focal point of the attack, supported by Kudus and Summerville, offering Lopetegui a fresh dynamic in a crucial match.
