Edson Álvarez makes his first West Ham United start in Saturday’s Premier League teatime kick-off at Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Mexico international made his debut as a second-half substitute in last Sunday’s 3-1 home win over Chelsea, and replaces Saïd Benrahma in the starting XI at the American Express Community Stadium.
The summer signing from Ajax is one of two changes from the victory over the Blues, as Angelo Ogbonna replaces the suspended Nayef Aguerd following the Morocco centre-back’s red card last weekend.
Jarrod Bowen makes his 300th senior club appearance. This is his 161st for West Ham, added to 131 for Hull City and eight for Hereford United. The UEFA Europa Conference League matchwinner is four short of 100 senior goals, but reaching his century might be beyond even Bowen at Brighton this evening!
James Ward-Prowse will look to add to the two assists he provided on his debut against Chelsea last weekend, while Michail Antonio and Lucas Paquetá will be seeking to double their seasonal tallies after hitting the net at London Stadium.
Ward-Prowse kicks-off one goal short of 50 in the Premier League, and one direct free-kick goal shy of equaling David Beckham’s all-time record of 18.
As he did in our opening two Premier League matches, Kurt Zouma captains the Irons again this afternoon.
Zouma’s fellow France international Alphonse Areola continues in goal after being included ahead of Łukasz Fabiański and wears a West Ham shirt for the 44th time.
With Ogbonna at left centre-back, the back four is completed by Czech Republic international Vladimír Coufal and UEFA Euro 2020 winner Emerson in the full-back positions.
Ward-Prowse slots into the midfield alongside Coufal’s compatriot Tomáš Souček, with the latter looking to score his 23rd West Ham goal on his 158th appearance since arriving from Slavia Prague in January 2020.
Álvarez looks set to slot into a defensive midfield role ahead of the back four, while Paquetá will wear the No10 shirt and could fill that role.
Michail Antonio will lead the line, with the No9 seeking to add to his Club record haul of 62 Premier League goals on his 231st top-flight appearance for the Irons.
Thilo Kehrer returns to the matchday squad after missing last weekend’s victory.
Brighton & Hove Albion: Verbruggen, Milner, Webster, Dunk ©, Estupiñán, Gross, Gilmour, March, Ferguson, Mitoma, Welbeck
Subs: Steele (GK), Julio, Dahoud, Pedro, Lallana, Adringa, van Hecke, Veltman, Buonanotte
West Ham United: Areola, Coufal, Zouma ©, Ogbonna, Emerson, Álvarez, Ward-Prowse, Souček, Bowen, Paquetá, Antonio
Subs: Fabiański (GK), Johnson, Cresswell, Kehrer, Fornals, Benrahma, Cornet, Ings, Mubama
Referee: Anthony Taylor
