Michael Owen has backed West Ham United to pick up all three points when they travel to face Bournemouth on Saturday.
The former Liverpool striker picked the Hammers as the likely winners when the two sides face off at the Vitality Stadium, despite Manuel Pellegrini’s men not beating the Cherries since 2016.
Bournemouth completed the double over West Ham last season, with goals from Callum Wilson and Josh King enough to seal the points in this fixture in January.
Owen picked West Ham as his likely winners in his BetVictor blog but did admit he hopes they put in more of a convincing performance than their 0-0 draw last time on the road against Aston Villa.
“West Ham were too good for a disappointing Manchester United side at the London Stadium on Sunday and, if there is to be a winner at the Vitality Stadium, I think it is likely to be Manuel Pellegrini’s side, although I hope they play with more conviction and pace than they did at Villa Park in their last game on the road,” he said.
OPINION
Based on their Premier League form, the clash between Bournemouth and West Ham should be an end-to-end game full of chances. Both of these sides are pushing for European football this season and have started their campaigns in fine form and sit in the top half of the table. The head-to-head form would suggest that the Cherries are favourites for this one, given the fact that the Hammers’ have failed to beat their next opponents in almost four years. That was also the last time that West Ham kept a clean-sheet against the free-scoring Bournemouth, who have only lost once at home this season. West Ham will be confident of picking up three points though, having not lost in the league since the opening day against Manchester City, and they will be hoping to take their performance against Manchester United into this clash. Defensively, the Hammers have been solid in the league so far and will be hoping to bounce back from Wednesday’s humiliation against Oxford. Bournemouth themselves were knocked out of the Carabao Cup against similar opposition in Burton Albion, and both sides will want to react quickly, which could lead to an open encounter – something Owen believes that the Hammers could potentially take advantage of.
