Team news: Antonio and Ayew start, Lanzini on bench

Manuel Lanzini

 

Slaven Bilic has shuffled his pack for today’s Premier League fixture with Swansea City at London Stadium.

The manager has made two changes to his starting XI, with Andre Ayew replacing Marko Arnautovic after the Austrian was ruled out through illness, and Andy Carroll coming in for Angelo Ogbonna.

There is also the welcome sight of Manuel Lanzini’s name on the teamsheet for just the second time this season, with the Argentina playmaker returning to the substitutes’ bench after recovering from a knee injury.

Bilic’s starting XI suggests the Croatian will play with a flat back four for the first time since the 3-0 defeat at Newcastle United on 26 August.

Joe Hart starts in goal, with a back four of Pablo Zabaleta, Jose Fonte, Winston Reid and Aaron Cresswell.

Captain Mark Noble and Cheikhou Kouyate will patrol the midfield, with Antonio, Ayew, Chicharito and Carroll in the attacking positions.

Antonio has recovered from the groin injury he suffered in the first half of last weekend’s 3-2 home defeat by Tottenham Hotspur.

It remains to be seen if Carroll and Chicharito will partner one another in a 4-4-2 formation, or if Carroll will lead the line in a 4-2-3-1 shape.

The England centre forward will aim to continue his impressive record against the Swans, which currently stands at six goals and three assists in nine career appearances.

As well as the sick Arnautovic, who was taken ill overnight, Bilic is without the injured Pedro Obiang (soft tissue), Edimilson Fernandes and James Collins (both ankle).

West Ham United: Hart, Zabaleta, Reid, Fonte, Cresswell, Antonio, Noble (C), Kouyate, Ayew, Chicharito, Carroll
Subs: Adrian (GK), Lanzini, Sakho, Ogbonna, Byram, Masuaku, Rice

Swansea City: Fabianski, Naughton, Fernandez, Mawson, Olsson, Sanches, Carroll, Britton (C) Ayew, Abraham, Bony
Subs: Nordfeldt (GK), van der Hoorn, Fer, Narsingh, Clucas, Rangel, Mesa

Referee: Roger East