West Ham United vs Hull City: League Cup Preview

West Ham continues their League Cup journey by hosting Hull City at the London Stadium in the third round of the cup.

West Ham had a tough match against Arsenal on Saturday where they came out second best. The Hammers have an opportunity to rebuild their confidence after difficulties in the league, they have lost both of their matches in the Premier League.

WEST HAM TEAM NEWS

David Moyes is likely to make wholesale changes to the side that played against Arsenal. In the previous round, the Scottish manager made ten changes from the league side, and he will likely do the same against Hull.

This rotation means chances for current fringe players like Felipe Anderson, Andriy Yarmolenko, Manuel Lanzini, Josh Cullen and Sebastien Haller to impress again. Both Anderson and Haller scored in the match against Charlton and earned some high reviews from fans.

West Ham United’s French striker Sebastien Haller (2nd R) celebrates with teammates after scoring their second goal during the English League Cup second round football match between West Ham United and Charlton Athletic at The London Stadium in east London on September 15, 2020. (Photo by Clive Rose / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match usage limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time—no video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 prints. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by CLIVE ROSE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

After only being given short cameos against the gunners, these fringe players need to make a point to Moyes. That point needs to be that they are not at the club to warm the bench and that they can be stars in the squad.

Robert Snodgrass is another player who could be given a chance to prove his worth. The midfielder suffered a bad back injury at the end of the last season and has only played one full match since recovering. The 33-year-old played in the 3-0 win over Charlton and showed he can still be deadly crossing from the wing.

KEY HULL PLAYERS

Speaking with avid Hull City supporter Chris Whiting, the Hull fan gave GSH an insight into who the Hull dangermen are:

We rigidly stick to a 4-3-3 formation and I think Mallik Wilks will be given another chance to play as the frontman tonight after scoring against Leeds in the last round and getting the winner on Saturday.

Since his arrival in January, he’s played on the right of the front three and managed a few goals from there but looks more suited to the no9 role as he is strong, reasonably quick and decent in the air for his size. Another one to look out for is Kean Lewis-Potter.

He is a 19 year old Hull lad who has come through the same youth system as a certain Jarrod Bowen and hopes are high he can follow in his footsteps. He has been a prolific goal scorer coming through the youth levels and already chipped in with goals, both last season and this, at first-team level.

HULL, ENGLAND – JANUARY 25: Jarrod Bowen of Hull City during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Hull City and Chelsea at KCOM Stadium on January 25, 2020 in Hull, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images) /

Obviously this being the Carabao Cup, I can’t be certain who will play so hopefully at least one of the will. The other frontmen are James Scott – Scottish U21 international who was signed to replace Jarrod Bowen and got injured in his first training session so we’ve not seen a lot of him yet.

Thomas Mayer – Austrian winter who signed last week and set up the winner on Saturday. Bit of an unknown but early signs are encouraging. Josh Magennis – Northern Ireland international who is a good target man at our level but not a regular goal scorer.

PREDICTED LINE-UPS

WEST HAM UNITED: Formation – 4-3-3

Randolph, Masuaku, Balbuena, Diop, Johnson, Cullen, Snodgrass, Lanzini, Anderson, Yarmolenko & Haller.

HULL CITY: Formation – 4-3-3

Ingram, Elder, de Wijs, Burke, Smallwood, Honeyman, Docherty, Lewis-Potter, Wilks & Magennis

MATCH PREDICTION

If there is one thing West Ham have shown some consistency at recently, it is beating League One sides. The Hammers cruised past Charlton in the last round and thumped Ipswich Town in the preseason.

David Moyes should be able to guide his side into the next round in order t face either Fleetwood or Everton. The side has more than enough quality to beat Hull City. Haller could be vital to the game as he will be up against former hammer Reece Burke.

The Frenchman is roaring to go after scoring twice in the previous round. Haller needs to carry on this form if he is to prove to Moyes that he deserves to start ahead of Michail Antonio in the Premier League. This task just got more challenging as the Englishman scored against Arsenal on Saturday.

West Ham ‘Second Team’ Picked in Carabao Cup Predicted XI. dark. Next

SCORE PREDICTION: 3-0

The Hammers should find themselves targeting the League cup for three reasons this season. One reason it is the League Cup is probably the best chance the club will have to win silverware and secondly a win will build confidence in the team, that it can take into the league.

Thirdly progression in the cup is one way the owner could get some fans off their back, fans that are becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of movement in the transfer market.