West Ham United and Bournemouth will be desperate to return to winning ways when they face off at the London Stadium on Saturday.

The 2024/25 Premier League season resumes with Gameweek 31 less than 48 hours after the curtains dropped on Gameweek 30. The action on Saturday will start with the game between Everton and Arsenal before continuing with three successive matches, including West Ham United vs Bournemouth at the London Stadium.

West Ham United promised much after what seemed to be an exceptional summer transfer business. However, the Hammers have flattered to deceive this season and sit in the 16th spot in the Premier League standings. Graham Potter has struggled to galvanise the squad, winning only three of the 11 games he has overseen while losing six matches.

On the other hand, Bournemouth’s recent downward spiral has shown no signs of slowing down. The Cherries have gone from outside contenders to qualify for the UEFA Champions League to being in outside contention for the UEFA Europa Conference League, falling from fifth to tenth in less than six weeks after failing to win their last five matches. So, Andoni Iraola will be desperate to see his men turn their form around.

The reverse fixture saw Bournemouth come from a goal down to hold West Ham United to a 1-1 draw, with Enes Unal scoring the equaliser. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.

Team News & Tactics

West Ham United

Graham Potter has greeted positive updates on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The West Ham United manager might be bereft of the services of only two first-team players vs Bournemouth on Saturday.

Jean-Clair Todibo (illness) and Mohammed Kudus (hip) should be available after missing the midweek defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers. In addition, Emerson Palmieri (knee) should be ready to take on Bournemouth this weekend. However, Crysencio Summerville (hamstring) and Michail Antonio remain on the sidelines.

Alphonse Areola should take his spot between the sticks, with West Ham United lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him vs Bournemouth on Saturday. The central defensive unit will likely feature Jean-Clair Todibo, Max Kilman, and Aaron Cresswell. Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Oliver Scarles will be the two wing-backs.

The wide duo will protect the centre-backs and provide width in the final third. As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Edson Alvarez and Tomas Soucek. Finally, Niclas Fullkrug will likely lead the line for West Ham against Bournemouth, with Lucas Paqueta and Jarrod Bowen providing the creative support.

Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Areola; Todibo, Kilman, Cresswell; Wan-Bissaka, Alvarez, Soucek, Scarles; Paqueta, Bowen; Fullkrug

Bournemouth

Unlike his counterpart in the West Ham United dugout, Andoni Iraola has a new issue to worry about ahead of the trip to the London Stadium. The Bournemouth manager might be without as many as four first-team players on Saturday.

Ryan Christie is the latest absentee after picking up a groin injury that might keep him on the sidelines for the remainder of the 2024/25 season. The Scottish international has joined Luis Sinisterra (hamstring), Marcus Tavernier (ankle), and Enes Unal (knee) on the sidelines. However, Julian Araujo and Justin Kluivert should be fit and available.

Kepa Arrizabalaga is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Bournemouth lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs West Ham United on Saturday. The backline should feature Adam Smith, Illia Zabarnyi, Dean Huijsen, and Milos Kerkez.

As for the midfield unit, Tyler Adams should replace Christie as Lewis Cook’s partner in the double pivot. Alex Scott will likely reprise the no. 10 role, with David Brooks and Antoine Semenyo the two wide attackers. Finally, Evanilson will spearhead the Bournemouth attack against West Ham on Saturday.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kepa; Smith, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Cook, Adams; Brooks, Scott, Semenyo; Evanilson

Key Stats

• West Ham United are unbeaten in eight league and cup clashes vs Bournemouth (W4 D4). The Cherries have failed to keep a clean sheet in seven previous Premier League visits to the London Stadium, conceding 13 goals during that run.
• West Ham United have won only three of their 11 league and cup games under Graham Potter (D2 L6). However, two of those three victories have come at the London Stadium. But the Hammers have lost three of their last four Premier League home games (W1), failing to score in those defeats.
• Bournemouth are winless in five league matches (D1 L4). However, the Cherries have amassed 23 away points this term, their best tally in a top-flight campaign. Only four sides have accrued more points on the road this season – Newcastle United (24), Nottingham Forest (26), Arsenal (27), and Liverpool (35).
• West Ham United have faced an average of 15.3 shots in home Premier League games this season, their most in a league campaign since they faced 16 per home match in 2013/14.
• Graham Potter has won both his home Premier League clashes with Bournemouth, beating them with Brighton & Hove Albion in 2019 and Chelsea in 2022.

Player to Watch

Jarrod Bowen

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While Lucas Paqueta, Evanilson, and Antoine Semenyo were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Jarrod Bowen as the Player to Watch for Saturday’s Premier League game between West Ham United and Bournemouth at the London Stadium.

The Englishman has failed to score or assist in his last five games at the London Stadium. He has never gone six successive home matches for West Ham without contributing to a goal. So, Bowen will be eager to bounce back, and that will be crucial as the Hammers look to return to winning ways.

Prediction

West Ham United 1-1 Bournemouth

Considering the two teams’ form and the results in recent meetings, we might witness a closely contested affair between West Ham United and Bournemouth at the London Stadium on Saturday. The three most recent clashes between these sides have ended in a 1-1 draw.

While West Ham’s offensive output has been hit-and-miss, Bournemouth’s recent defensive frailties might contribute to a slight upturn in fortunes. However, ultimately, there might not be much to separate the two teams. The Hard Tackle predicts a 1-1 draw.