West Ham and Sunderland Clash in Gameweek 23 Opener Amidst Team News Updates
West Ham United and Sunderland kick off Gameweek 23 of the season at 12:30pm GMT, offering a relatively low-key start before the anticipated focus shifts to Manchester City’s team selection. The match presents a chance for both sides to build momentum, particularly for West Ham following their recent victory.
The Hammers enter the contest with a largely unchanged lineup from their 2-1 win against Tottenham Hotspur, a testament to their recent performance. However, the return of El Hadji Malick Diouf from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) provides a boost to the squad depth, though he will begin the match on the bench. Ollie Scarles retains his position at left-back, solidifying the defense.
A key absence for West Ham is Lucas Paqueta, whose unavailability was confirmed by manager Nuno Espirito Santo on Thursday. More intrigue surrounds the situation with Granit Xhaka, with manager Regis Le Bris choosing not to disclose information regarding his status. The Swiss international, a consistent starter for the team this season, will miss the match due to injury, paving the way for Eliezer Mayenda to take his place in the starting eleven. This marks the only alteration to the team from Gameweek 22.
Sunderland also welcomes back players from AFCON duty, with Habib Diarra and Chemsdine Talbi named among the substitutes. This match serves as a replay of the opening weekend fixture, where Sunderland secured a convincing 3-0 victory over West Ham on their home ground.
Confirmed Line-Ups
Here are the confirmed starting lineups for both teams:
West Ham XI: Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Mavropanos, Scarles, Soucek, Fernandes, Bowen, Pablo, Summerville, Castellanos.
Substitutes: Hermansen, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Ward-Prowse, Wilson, Diouf, Magassa, Potts, Kante.
Sunderland XI: Roefs, Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Reinildo, Hume, Sadiki, Le Fee, Mundle, Mayenda, Brobbey.
Substitutes: Patterson, O’Nien, Geertruida, Cirkin, Rigg, Diarra, Adingra, Isidor, Talbi.
The encounter promises a compelling tactical battle as both teams aim to replicate their earlier season form and secure a valuable three points.
