West Ham vs Newcastle predictions: Pair could be difficult to split
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- West Ham are searching for a third successive Premier League victory
- Newcastle are looking to boost their top-four hopes a week before their League Cup final against Liverpool
- Recommended bet: Draw
West Ham should have enough daylight to ensure they are not pulled into the Premier League relegation picture after victories over Arsenal and Leicester and they will be confident they can take the game to Newcastle when the pair meet at the London Stadium on Monday.
The Magpies have lost four of their last six league matches, but they are still in the mix for Champions League qualification and have a busy week to look forward to with a League Cup final date with Liverpool at Wembley next Sunday.
Team news
Vladimir Coufal should be available for the Hammers following a thigh injury, but Michail Antonio, Niclas Fullkrug and Crysencio Summerville will all be missing.
Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon is suspended while full-back Kieran Trippier faces a late test on his back injury. Lewis Hall, Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles are all injured.
The stats
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Both teams have scored in nine of the last 11 meetings
Newcastle have lost three of their last four league matches
Five of West Ham’s last six league games have featured fewer than three goals
Newcastle have kept just three clean sheets on the road in the league this season
Magpies striker Alexander Isak has scored 12 goals in his last 10 league appearances
Prediction
Having gained a 1-0 win at Arsenal and followed that with a 2-0 success over relegation-threatened Leicester, West Ham will now be looking up towards mid-table and will fancy their chances of seeing off Newcastle.
However, this is a big week for the Magpies as they look to claim the League Cup at Premier League leaders Liverpool’s expense at Wembley on Sunday, so that should ensure an intense effort from Eddie Howe’s side at the London Stadium.
Newcastle raised their game by winning both legs of the semi-final against the Gunners, but their league form has suffered somewhat as they have lost four of their last six league matches.
However, two of those away defeats were against the league leaders and champions Manchester City, so there is no cause for panic as they look to keep pace with those searching for a top-four finish.
They also have one of the top flight’s most prolific strikers in Alexander Isak, so it seems unlikely that the Magpies will be sitting back.
West Ham are growing in confidence, but a third league success on the bounce is not guaranteed and Graham Potter’s side may have to settle for a share of the spoils in Monday night’s big clash.
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