Having taken a giant step towards the Europa League knockout stages, West Ham United return to Premier League action on Sunday, as Nottingham Forest visit the London Stadium.
While the Irons saw off Olympiacos 1-0 in Thursday's continental contest, the Tricky Trees broke their winless run in the top flight by stunning Aston Villa 2-0 at the City Ground last weekend.
Match preview
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For the second Europa League game in a row, Lucas Paqueta breached the Olympiacos backline for West Ham, and unlike in October's 2-1 defeat to the Greek giants in Piraeus, the Brazilian had the final say with his solitary strike on Thursday.
After 73 minutes of frustration at the London Stadium, Paqueta's drive settled a closely-fought battle with Olympiacos as West Ham avenged their loss to Diego Martinez's side on matchday three, while also leaving them requiring just one win from their final two games to assure themselves of a place in the knockout round playoffs at the very least.
Since the start of the month, cup competitions have provided West Ham with a much-needed escape from their downturn in Premier League fortunes, as a 3-1 beating of Arsenal in the EFL Cup preceded a painful 3-2 loss to Brentford, who came from 2-1 down to sent the Hammers home empty-handed on November 4.
A third Premier League defeat on the trot - and a fifth in their last seven top-flight games - has demoted West Ham down to 12th place ahead of the commencement of gameweek 12, and the Irons' last two wins have both come against newly-promoted teams in the shape of Luton Town and Sheffield United.
In fact, out of West Ham's last 34 Premier League games against non-newly promoted sides, the Europa Conference League holders have only triumphed in six of them, and their perfect record of scoring in every top-flight home match in 2023 was snapped by Everton at the end of October.
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Speaking of snapping streaks, some Forest fans may have feared a seventh winless top-flight game on the bounce when Unai Emery's Aston Villa made the trip to the East Midlands, but the City Ground is no Villa Park for the Lions, who lost their bite and then some last weekend.
A crisp strike from Ola Aina with just five minutes gone set the tone for the remainder of the match, as the Forest backline repelled futile advances from the likes of Ollie Watkins and Moussa Diaby, before Emiliano Martinez inadvertently palmed an Orel Mangala strike over his own line.
Prior to gameweek 11, Steve Cooper had not witnessed his troupe succeed in a top-flight game since September's shock beating of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, and the Tricky Trees had to go all the way back to August 18 for their last home success over newly-promoted Sheffield United, but breathing space has now materialised.
Indeed, this weekend's visitors boast a healthy seven-point buffer to the relegation zone as they sit 13th in the standings, but Cooper's men have failed to make the net bulge in each of their last three away games, albeit against Manchester City, Liverpool and Roy Hodgson's stingy Crystal Palace crop.
Furthermore, 17 away losses since the start of the 2022-23 season is an unwanted Premier League high for Forest, who were slaughtered 4-0 at the London Stadium back in February and have not beaten West Ham away from home since New Year's Day 1997, when Kevin Campbell came up with the decisive moment.
Team News
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West Ham navigated their defeat to Brentford without the services of Lucas Paqueta and Edson Alvarez owing to suspension, but the duo have served their one-game bans and will be fine to take on the Tricky Trees, leaving Moyes with just one known concern.
Indeed, Kurt Zouma was unable to feature against Olympiacos due to the injury he sustained before the win over Arsenal in the EFL Cup, and he was restricted to indoor work earlier this week, making a comeback on Sunday appear unlikely.
As a result, Dinos Mavropanos should have a shot at redemption following his own goal in the loss to Brentford, while recalls also await Alphonse Areola and Michail Antonio, despite Jarrod Bowen's recent feats as a number nine.
Meanwhile, Forest left-back Harry Toffolo - who set up Aina and Mangala's goals against Villa - looked to be a little worse for wear as he was brought off in the second half of that victory, and the Tricky Trees faithful are awaiting updates on his condition.
Chris Wood (thigh), Felipe (knee) and Divock Origi (hip) are all out doubtful for the visitors, while Callum Hudson-Odoi (thigh) will miss out, and updates have been scarce on World Cup winner Gonzalo Montiel, who returned from October's international break with a calf injury.
Toffolo's potential absence would surely shift Aina to his recognisable left-back role for the trip to West Ham, in spite of his impressive exploits on the right last weekend, as Serge Aurier and Neco Williams fight for the right to return to the rearguard, which ought to shield Odysseas Vlachodimos following a rather straightforward top-flight debut for the Greek goalkeeper last time out.
West Ham United possible starting lineup:
Areola; Coufal, Aguerd, Mavropanos, Emerson; Alvarez, Ward-Prowse; Bowen, Paqueta, Kudus; Antonio
Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:
Vlachodimos; Aina, Niakhate, Murillo, Toffolo; Sangare, Mangala, Dominguez; Gibbs-White, Awoniyi, Elanga
We say: West Ham United 1-1 Nottingham Forest
Forest's recent scoreless streak on the road should not be taken at face value given the calibre of opposition to host Cooper's side in recent weeks, and the Tricky Trees will be riding the crest of a wave after stunning a Champions League-chasing Aston Villa.
The visitors will also possess the fresher legs on the back of another taxing Europa League evening for West Ham - albeit a worthwhile one - and while we have faith in Moyes's side to avoid a fourht successive loss in the top flight, they may have to accept a share of the spoils.
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Top tip
Ben Knapton
