West Ham United will host Burnley in the Premier League on Sunday. In the first leg of their Europa League last-16 match, the Irons lost 1-0 to Freiburg on Thursday. Vincent Kompany’s team lost 2-0 to Bournemouth the previous weekend.
Preview (West Ham United vs Burnley)
Michael Gregoritsch’s goal in the 81st minute would win Freiburg the match. The Germans to exact revenge for their two Europa League group-stage defeats to West Ham. However, there was the usual VAR dispute during Thursday’s first leg at the Europa-Park Stadion. Deep into stoppage time, David Moyes’s team appeared to have a chance to equalize from 12 yards out. Referee Alejandro Hernandez jogged over to the pitchside monitor to review a possible handball. However, in an uncommon move, the official stuck with his original call and did not point to the penalty spot.
Following their ninth-inning victory over Brentford, the Europa Conference League winners put on a late display to defeat Everton 3-1 at Goodison Park last weekend. The Irons now aim to correct their midweek errors and secure a 10th win from their past 11 Premier League games with newly-promoted opponents. They have not lost such a fixture since October 2021. The Irons are still capable of qualifying for European football via one of two pathways this season. Last weekend, Burnley welcomed two sides to Turf Moor that had not won a Premier League title in 2024 in an attempt to rekindle their survival bid and make Bournemouth look over their shoulder.
After Burnley kept trying and failing to find the back of the net, Bournemouth eventually took advantage once more, thanks to a goal from Justin Kluivert. Antoine Semenyo made sure the Cherries would go home with their first three-point haul of the season.
Team News
Due to a groin issue, Emerson Palmieri had to be replaced by Aaron Cresswell midway through the second half. With less than 72 hours to play, the former Chelsea player is probably going to miss this one. Maxwel Cornet, who had a hamstring injury, is sure to miss the first leg. Nayef Aguerd, who was a question mark before the competition, was nowhere to be seen in Germany. He may join Emerson in the infirmary. Though it seems inevitable that Cresswell and custodian Alphonse Areola will make a comeback to the starting lineup, there may be fewer alterations made further up the pitch until Moyes determines that Michael Antonio and Kalvin Phillips’ fresh legs are needed.
In regards to Sunday’s visitors, Josh Cullen’s brief appearance in the starting lineup should come to an end in the capital as Kompany may once again turn to midfield fulcrum Josh Brownhill, who served a suspension in the defeat to Bournemouth. Though all of Nathan Redmond (thigh), Aaron Ramsey (knee), Lucas Koleosho (knee), Kyle Foster (surgery), and Jordan Beyer (thigh) are still out with injuries, Burnley’s injury situation hasn’t changed. However, Beyer may be back before the end of the month. Zeki Amdouni should be brought back in immediately for David Datro Fofana. Kompany’s choice to pair him with Jacob Bruun Larsen did not turn out as planned last weekend. However, Vitinho was a menace in a more advanced role.
West Ham United 3-0 Burnley
For more football previews, click here
