West Ham welcome Brighton to the London Stadium and Julen Lopetegui has a number of big calls to make.
Julen Lopetegui is back at West Ham following the death of his father this week.
He will lead the team out against Brighton, hoping his players show the same attitude and commitment to the cause.
Brighton’s flying start to life under confirmed former Hammers target Fabian Hurzeler has stalled of late.
So much so West Ham can go within two points of the Seagulls in the Premier League table with a win.
The bigger picture is that the Hammers can actually go just three points off sixth place and the European spots with a victory.
That would really get West Ham’s season back on track.
The problem is, Brighton are very much West Ham’s bogey team.
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There have only been 61 matches between the Hammers and Brighton down the years.
West Ham have won 19 of them to Brighton’s 21 and there have been 21 draws.
Julen Lopetegui, Manager of West Ham United, talks to Crysencio Summerville during the Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Wolverha...
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Lopetegui makes two West Ham changes for Brighton
Remarkably, the east Londoners have only won once against Brighton in 14 games since the south coast club were promoted to the top flight.
It’s a big game in the context of West Ham’s season.
Win and the Hammers could find themselves right back in the hunt for a European spot.
Lose and the pressure could pile back on Lopetegui.
The good news for West Ham is that Brighton have been hit by a mini crisis.
The manager has a number of his own selection dilemmas for the game, though.
Key midfielder Carlos Soler is suspended, which means there will be at least one enforced change to the side which started at Bournemouth.
But we predict Lopetegui makes two West Ham changes for Brighton after a big Crysencio Summerville decision.
West Ham fans were angered when Lopetegui dropped Summerville for the draw with the Cherries.
With Soler out he must decide whether to recall the Dutchman or give Niclas Fullkrug his first start.
The first change will come at the back with Emerson Palmieri coming back in for Vladimir Coufal.
Julen Lopetegui, Manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers arrives at the stadium ahead of the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Cr...
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Hammers boss Lopetegui makes big Summerville decision
That will see Aaron Wan-Bissaka switch back to the right.
Lopetegui must then decide whether to put Lucas Paqueta back into a more central role with either Summerville or Fullkrug coming in.
That decision will dictate whether Mohammed Kudus plays on the left or right.
If Summerville is recalled, he will play on the left, Kudus on the right and Jarrod Bowen up front.
But if Fullkrug gets his first Premier League start then Kudus will be on the right.
Lopetegui seemed to suggest Fullkrug still needs time before starting games in his pre-match press conference.
So we think Summerville will come back in on the left with Kudus on the right and Bowen up top for West Ham.
There may be a third change if Jean-Clair Todibo is back fit, available and in favour.
But the French defender has not been seen in training ahead of the game so Konstantinos Mavropanos looks set to continue alongside Max Kilman.
Predicted West Ham starting XI for Brighton:
Fabianski, Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson, Paqueta, Soucek, Alvarez, Summerville, Kudus, Bowen.
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