West Ham welcomes the thought of Europa League football this weekend when they welcome home Southampton on the final matchday. The match schedules for Sunday at London Stadium with kickoff at 6 pm.
A loss this weekend for the Saints will see them drop to 16th while a win gives them a 12th league finish. On the other hand, West Ham must be wary of Tottenham, Arsenal, and Leicester City in the Europa slot.
It was a night full of drama last time out for David Moyes, who saw his side miss a penalty and concede an own goal against West Brom. However, a spirited comeback landed the side with three crucial points. A fighting back spirit has been part of the Hammer arsenal with the same prevailing against Brighton and Burnley.
Furthermore, David Moyes only needs one point from the expectant crowd to land a Europa League spot. However, it proves a hard nut to crack for Moyes without a clean sheet in ten league matches.
In contrast, Southampton is gaining momentum at the wrong time, picking six points from fixtures against Crystal Palace and Fulham. However, Ralph Haseenhutl failed to get past Marco Bielsa the last outing.
A 12th league spot is a realistic option for Hassenhutl. James Ward-Prowse is ninety minutes away from ending the season, having played every minute this season.
West Ham vs. Southampton Head to Head
Both sides have 19 games against each other, with West Ham taking nine wins while Southampton with five wins. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
- West Brom 1-3 West Ham
- Brighton 1-1 West Ham
- West Ham 0-1 Everton
- Burnley 1-2 West Ham
- West Ham 0-1 Chelsea
Away
- Southampton 0-2 Leeds
- Southampton 3-1 Fulham
- Saints 3-1 Crystal Palace
- Liverpool 2-0 Southampton
- Southampton 1-1 Leicester City
West Ham Team News
Given no fresh injury concerns, David Moyes will likely stick to the same starting XI this weekend. However, Lukasz Fabianski is out with an injury, paving the way for second-choice goalkeeper Dareen Randolph to pick up between the sticks.
Southampton Team News
Danny Ings could step back to replace Che Adams in the attack. Additionally, we expect another face on the wide positions with either Walcott or Djenepo dropping to pave the way for Nathan Redmond. Jan Bednarek is available to feature in the middle of the park.
Prediction and Odds
We expect a tense game this weekend, with one side full of pressure to make Europa while the other with nothing but pride to play for.
- West Ham Win
- Goals Over 1.5
- Both Teams to Score
