Danny Ings

Team News: Ings in squad, Zouma & Benrahma start against Everton

Danny Ings is part of West Ham United's matchday squad as Everton visit London Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

The 30-year-old, who joined the Hammers from Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee on Friday, could make his Irons debut should he be called upon from the bench.

With regards to the starting XI for Everton, Kurt Zouma is one of three changes from the Hammers’ last outing at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Out of action since an injury sustained in a 2-0 defeat to Leicester City last November, the French defender will move two shy of 50 appearances in Claret and Blue.

With the Irons looking for a second straight home win over Everton, Emerson and Saïd Benrahma are the other incomers. Aaron Cresswell, who made his 315th Club appearance at Molineux, Tomáš Souček and Pablo Fornals make way for the recalled trio.

Benrahma and Zouma celebrate

 As the Hammers seek their second win of 2023 but first in eight matches in the Premier League, Nayef Aguerd continues his run of appearances at the back. Joined by Zouma, vice-skipper Angelo Ogbonna, Vladimír Coufal and Emerson, the Morocco international is set to make his first home Premier League start in front of the ever-present Łukasz Fabiański. The former Poland stopper will make his 160th appearance and could secure a 40th clean sheet for the Club today.

For the 20th time in the Premier League this season, the side will be led by Declan Rice, who is partnered by Paquetá in midfield. The duo have netted a goal apiece in the Premier League this season – with Rice striking in a 1-1 draw against Southampton and Paquetá netting in a 2-2 draw at Leeds United. Both will hope to net add their second goal of the season in a win today.

Antonio, who scored the Hammers’ first as Slaven Bilic’s men overturned a two-goal deficit to beat Everton 3-2 at Goodison Park in 2016, will lead the line, supported by Jarrod Bowen and Benrahma.

No Hammer has scored more Premier League goals than the Algerian in 2022/23, and Benrahma will look for his fourth league goal to mark his first start after the turn of the year. Michail Antonio meanwhile, has two Premier League goals this season and seeks a second career strike against the Toffees.

Alphonse Areola has recovered from a hip injury and returns to a matchday squad for the first time since the trip to Leeds United on 4 January. Alongside new signing Ings, the 29-year-old is joined on the bench by Fornals, Cresswell, Thilo Kehrer, and Souček.

Ben Johnson, Flynn Downes and Manuel Lanzini complete the matchday squad. The Argentine could make his 175th Premier League appearance should he feature at London Stadium today.

 

West Ham United: Fabiański, Coufal, Zouma, Ogbonna, Aguerd, Emerson, Rice (c), Paquetá, Benrahma, Bowen, Antonio
Subs: Areola (GK), Johnson, Cresswell, Fornals, Lanzini, Downes, Ings, Kehrer, Souček

 

Everton: Pickford, Coleman (c), Coady, Mina, Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Onana, Gueye, Iwobi, Gray, Calvert-Lewin
Subs: Begovic (GK), Holgate, Vinagre, Davies, Price, McNeil, Gordon, Maupay, Simms

 

Referee: Stuart Attwell

 

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