Julen Lopetegui has rung the changes for West Ham United’s Premier League fixture with Manchester United at London Stadium on Sunday.
The Head Coach has swapped four of the players who started the previous two games – a 4-1 home win over Ipswich Town and 4-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur – as he seeks a winning combination against the Red Devils.
The first change comes in goal, where Łukasz Fabiański replaces Alphonse Areola between the sticks. The former Poland international makes his first Premier League start since the defeat at Crystal Palace on 21 April this year, his second Premier League appearance of the season after appearing as a substitute at home to Manchester City on 31 August, and his 203rd appearance for West Ham in all competitions.
In defence, Dinos Mavropanos returns to the team in place of Jean-Clair Todibo, who suffered a knock at Tottenham last time out. The Greek started last season’s 2-0 home win over Manchester United in December 2023.
In midfield, Edson Álvarez and Carlos Soler come into the side in place of Tomáš Souček and the suspended Mohammed Kudus, who is serving the first game of a three-match ban after being sent-off at Spurs.
Like Mavropanos, Mexican Álvarez also started that home victory over his former Ajax manager Erik ten Hag’s side last term. Spain international Soler, meanwhile, makes his first Premier League start after appearing as a substitute in each of West Ham’s previous five top-flight matches.
So, it is expected that Lopetegui’s starting will line up with Fabiański in goal behind a back four of former Manchester United full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Maximilian Kilman and Emerson.
Álvarez will anchor the midfield alongside Argentina international Guido Rodríguez, with Soler and Lucas Paquetá, who grabbed an assist in the home win last season, ahead of them.
Jarrod Bowen, who opened the scoring in that victory, and Michail Antonio, who has netted twice previously against today’s opponents, will form the forward line.
Areola, Todibo and Souček are named among the nine substitutes alongside full-backs Vladimír Coufal and Aaron Cresswell, midfielder Andy Irving, wingers Luis Guilherme and Crysencio Summerville and striker Danny Ings.
West Ham United: Fabiański, Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson, Rodríguez, Álvarez, Paquetá, Soler, Bowen ©, Antonio
Subs: Areola (GK), Coufal, Cresswell, Todibo, Irving, Souček, Luis Guilherme, Summerville, Ings
Manchester United: Onana, Dalot, de Ligt, Martínez, Mazraoui, Eriksen, Casemiro, Rashford, Fernandes ©, Garnacho, Højlund
Subs: Bayindir (GK), Lindelöf, Evans, Zirkzee, Amad, Ugarte, Wheatley, Amass, Fletcher
Referee: David Coote
