In his latest predict the scores column for BBC Sport, former Liverpool defender turned pundit Mark Lawrenson has revealed his predictions for West Ham’s fixture against Stoke City later this afternoon at the London Stadium.
The hosts go into the game on the back of a loss to Everton at Goodison Park but won their previous two games in the league against Crystal Palace and Sunderland respectively.
The win against the Black Cats came at their new home which they followed up with a win over Chelsea in the EFL Cup on their own turf so they’ll be looking for three wins from three home games against the Potters.
The visitors, meanwhile, have won their last three games in a row with the last being a 3-1 win over Swansea City, a game that saw Wilfried Bony score his first two goals for the club.
With that in mind, ‘Lawro’ thinks that the two sides will play out a pretty tightly contested affair. He said:
“West Ham had been on an improved run until their defeat at Everton, which showed they still have work to do on the pitch as well as off it – there is no good news coming out of the London Stadium at the moment.
It is no surprise Stoke’s results have picked up of late. They look much better going forward at the moment, especially now Wilfried Bony is back among the goals, and the Potters seem to have the bit between their teeth.”
Lawrenson predicts a 1-1 scoreline for the tie this afternoon.
