West Ham vs Burnley: A Battle of Wits
The English Premier League is back in action this weekend with a mouthwatering clash between West Ham United and Burnley. Both teams have had contrasting starts to the season, with West Ham flying high in the top half of the table and Burnley struggling near the relegation zone.
Team News
West Ham will be without the services of Michail Antonio, who is suspended after his red card against Arsenal. However, manager David Moyes will be boosted by the return of Jarrod Bowen, who has been out with a foot injury.
Burnley, meanwhile, will be without the injured Ashley Barnes and Johann Berg Gudmundsson. Manager Sean Dyche will also be without suspended midfielder Ashley Westwood.
Form Guide
West Ham have been in excellent form in recent weeks, winning three of their last five league games. They have also scored 10 goals in their last three matches, including a 4-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Burnley, on the other hand, have been struggling for form. They have lost four of their last five league games and have only scored one goal in that time. They were also knocked out of the Carabao Cup by fourth-tier side Rochdale in midweek.
Head-to-Head
West Ham and Burnley have met 27 times in the Premier League, with West Ham winning 11 games and Burnley winning 8. The last meeting between the two sides was in January 2022, when West Ham won 2-1 at Turf Moor.
Prediction
West Ham will go into this game as the favorites, but Burnley will be looking to cause an upset. The Hammers have been in excellent form in recent weeks, while Burnley have been struggling. However, Dyche's men are always dangerous on their travels and will be looking to take advantage of West Ham's defensive frailties.
Ultimately, I think West Ham will edge this game 2-1. They have more quality in their team and are in better form. However, Burnley will not go down without a fight and could cause an upset if they can find their shooting boots.