OPINION
West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini is expected to make two enforced changes to his starting line up to face Manchester United on Sunday.
Left back Arthur Masuaku is suspended after being sent off against Aston Villa on Monday night, and Pellegrini all but confirmed at his pre match press conference on Friday (as per Football London) that Aaron Cresswell would replace him.
The Chilean also revealed that playmaker Manuel Lanzini has ‘a problem’ and will be assessed prior to Sunday’s game at the London Stadium.
With that said, the Irons boss will likely play it safe and have summer signing Pablo Fornals replace the dimuntive Argentine in the starting eleven. Those will most probably be the only changes Pellegrini makes on Sunday.
Lukasz Fabianski will almost certainly keep his place between the sticks. The Poland international has separated himself as one of the finest goalkeepers in the division and will invariably make life difficult for the visiting attackers.
At right back, Ryan Fredericks is the clear choice these days and will surely get the nod on Sunday. Meanwhile, Cresswell, as mentioned, is expected to come in for Masuaku.
At centre back, Issa Diop and Angelo Ogbonna are clearly now Pellegrini’s favoured centre half partnership, ahead of Paraguayan international Fabian Balbuena. Both men will likely start against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.
Declan Rice and Mark Noble are the two main men in the middle of the park for the Hammers, and will surely both get the nod once again here. Further forward, Fornals will likely replace Lanzini as a precaution.
Out wide, Andriy Yarmolenko and Felipe Anderson are clear choices to start once again. The duo would surely both be surprised if they didn’t continue against the Red Devils. Finally, as ever, Sebastien Haller is expected to lead the line on Sunday.
