The Premier League's New Year gameweek begins with a tie at the London Stadium between West Ham United and Brentford.
This all-London encounter promises to be an important one, with the hosts teetering just above the dotted line.
Match preview
© Reuters
Four straight league defeats have left West Ham just one point above the relegation zone, level on points with manager David Moyes' former club Everton.
A 3-1 defeat at the Emirates on Boxing Day meant it was a losing return to action for the Hammers despite a very promising start, which saw them lead at half-time thanks to Said Benrahma's penalty.
The damage was done before the World Cup break though, as losses to Leicester City, Crystal Palace and Manchester United left them in the predicament they currently find themselves in.
A 10-9 defeat on penalties to Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Cup in November also means that their last two wins both came in Europe and that is currently the only saving grace for Moyes, and is perhaps the reason why the pressure has not mounted quite as much as it has on other managers.
However, Silkeborg, Anderlecht and FCSB are a level below the sides they face, and need to start beating, domestically.
Ten of their 14 points this season have come at the London Stadium, so they must make home advantage count and finish 2022 with a result that moves them away from impending trouble.
Brentford, meanwhile, will be searching for back-to-back away league wins following their incredible success at the Etihad before the mid-season break.
© Reuters
They are four games unbeaten now in the Premier League following a draw on Boxing Day with Tottenham Hotspur which means they sit in the top half with the halfway point in the campaign approaching.
With manager Thomas Frank also signing a new contract with the Bees until 2027, the Dane clearly believes he can still take this side even further.
However, deep down he will have been disappointed with their collapse against Spurs, which saw them squander a two-goal lead, even though he said he was impressed with the result afterwards.
Talisman Ivan Toney has not let the off-field investigations affect his performances on the pitch though, as the Brentford forward was on the scoresheet for a third consecutive match on Boxing Day.
His goal versus Spurs marked a 30th goal involvement in just his first 50 Premier League appearances, and he is just one goal off his league tally from last season already.
Team News
© Reuters
This game will come too soon for Kurt Zouma, with West Ham's trip to Leeds United next week a more likely return date from his knee injury.
Gianluca Scamacca (ankle) was a doubt for their trip to Arsenal on Boxing Day but missed out, so the Italian has more chance of featuring here in some capacity.
Nayef Aguerd may have to wait a little longer for his full Premier League debut as he remains doubtful from the knock which ruled him out of Morocco's semi-final defeat at the World Cup.
Maxwel Cornet will miss out again with a calf problem that has kept him sidelined for almost three months.
Brentford duo Kristoffer Ajer and Aaron Hickey will both miss out in defence, but they should both return sometime in early January.
Frank Onyeka faces a late fitness test following a hamstring strain, while Shandon Baptiste will be absent with an adductor issue.
Backup goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha is not far away from returning after an ankle injury, but he may move away from the club in January having not played any league minutes behind David Raya since arriving from Lazio in the summer.
West Ham United possible starting lineup:
Fabianski; Coufal, Dawson, Kehrer, Cresswell; Soucek, Rice; Bowen, Lucas Paqueta, Benrahma; Antonio
Brentford possible starting lineup:
Raya; Zanka, Pinnock, Mee; Roerslev, Jensen, Norgaard, Janelt, Henry; Mbeumo, Toney
We say: West Ham United 1-1 Brentford
Brentford beat the Hammers home and away in their debut Premier League season last time around, and any repeat of that will leave David Moyes in serious trouble.
The Bees have been draw specialists though having drawn half of their 16 league games so far, and this could go a similar way.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
